There are numerous laws and restrictions that must be considered when you need to ship a package to Russia, and the process varies depending on the parcel service you use. However, the Internet makes it easier to determine international shipping costs and to research international freight shipping between the U.S. and Russia.
International Shipping Costs to Russia
The first question on your mind is likely price, as it can be extraordinarily expensive to ship a package to Russia. As with all other types of parcel transport, international shipping prices to Russia depend on the dimensions and weight of the package in question.
Additionally, you will need to value the item being shipped if you want to be compensated appropriately in the event of damage or loss. You should always purchase insurance when you ship a package to Russia, particularly when you are doing so for your business.
Calculating International Shipping Prices
There are limits on the value of the items shipped to Russia, so it is important to be familiar with exchange rates as well as current restrictions for Russian customs. According to MetaLink, the value of the item you are shipping plus the shipping costs cannot exceed $185 if shipping via parcel service.
Since the international shipping costs are extremely high when you ship a package to Russia (between $28 and $300 for small- to medium-sized packages), this does not leave much room for the value of your package.
If you have difficulty calculating international shipping prices, or if you discover that your package is too valuable to be shipped easily to Russia, you might consider splitting your shipment into two or more packages. This lowers the value of each individual parcel and might make your job easier.
Restrictions and Limits on International Freight Shipping
Since Russia limits the number of packages and the value of said packages that can be accepted in a single week with shipments to one person or one company, you might have to stagger shipments. This will eliminate unnecessary customs duties.
It is also important to remember that there are many restrictions when you ship a package to Russia. According to the USPS, you cannot attempt to ship dangerous chemicals, radioactive materials, weapons, ammunition, color copiers and a host of other items. You can send cigarettes but no more than 200, and you must insure any form of currency.
With any type of international freight shipping, and especially with shipments to Russia, it is important to familiarize yourself with the laws and to ask questions before shipping your package. The more you know in advance, the less likely your package will be returned to you.
