5 tips for shipping to Singapore

Shipping to Singapore is one of the most common requests we get: families sending food and gifts to relatives studying or working there, and online shops sending orders to customers. Singapore controls imports closely, so one small mistake can get a parcel held, returned or charged extra. Here are five things to check before you ship.

1. Check that your goods can be shipped

Every country has its own prohibited and restricted goods. For Singapore, AV Logistics does not ship liquids, products containing alcohol, chemicals, flammable items, alcohol, tobacco or anything banned by law.

• See the accepted and refused goods on our Shipping to Singapore page.
• If you are unsure about an item, send us a photo and its ingredients before you bring it to the warehouse.

2. Pack it properly from the start

Air shipments are loaded and unloaded several times. Good packing gets your goods there intact and avoids extra inspections.

• Use thick cartons and fill the gaps with foam or air bags.
• Cream cosmetics or food in sauce: ask us first, because liquids cannot be shipped on this route.
• Dry food: vacuum-pack it or use zip bags so it stays dry and does not pick up smells.
• Fragile items: wrap each one and tell our staff so they can pack them separately.

More: How to pack parcels for international shipping.

3. Declare the right name, quantity and value

Customs clears your parcel from the declaration. Declaring the correct name, quantity and real value gets it through faster; incomplete or wrong declarations are the usual reason parcels are held.

For valuable goods, the recipient in Singapore may have to pay import tax (GST) under Singapore's rules. Ask us before you ship to find out whether your goods are affected.

4. Optimise the size to save on shipping

International shipping is charged on the chargeable weight: the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. A big but light box can still cost a lot.

• Choose a box that fits your goods; avoid oversized boxes.
• Remove packaging you don't need.
• Combine small items into one parcel instead of sending them separately.

The details are in How to calculate volumetric weight. You can also enter the weight and size in our shipping calculator for an estimate.

5. Give the right recipient details

Include the recipient's full name, a phone number they use and the full address in Singapore, including the unit number and postal code. Missing details are a common cause of late delivery.

Need help?

Rates and estimated transit times for Singapore are on our Shipping to Singapore page. If you are not sure whether something can be shipped, message AV Logistics on Zalo before you bring it in.