The designated operator of Japan, Japan Post, asks us to inform the designated operators of UPU member countries that Gifu, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Tokushima, Ehime and Kochi prefectures in western Japan are experiencing typhoons, heavy rains and massive flooding, as a result of which many post offices, domestic sorting centres and mail processing facilities have been closed. Some roads and highways in these areas are also inaccessible to traffic, which is delaying the delivery of mail and parcels.

The affected districts and areas are in the following postcodes (as of 11 July 2018):

Gifu: 5000000-5099999;

Kyoto: 6000000-6299999;

Osaka: 53000000-5999999;

Hyogo: 6500000-6799999;

Okayama: 7000000-7199999;

Hiroshima: 7200000-7399999;

Tokushima: 7600000-7699999;

Ehime: 7900000-7999999; and

Kochi: 7800000-7899999.

Japan Post apologizes for these unavoidable delays. It will keep designated operators informed of the situation and thanks them for their understanding and cooperation.

Royal Mail (GB) wishes to share the following :

The designated operator of the United Kingdom, Royal Mail Group, asks us to inform the designated operators of other UPU member countries that significant snowfall has caused major disruptions to transport services across much of the United Kingdom. There is a red weather warning for heavy snow showers and drifting of lying snow along the central belt of Scotland. As a result, Royal Mail Group has had to close its Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth depots overnight, with no parcels leaving or arriving on the morning of 1 March 2018.

Red weather warnings are also in place for Storm Emma, which is expected to cause heavy snow and drifting with strong winds across South West England and South Wales later in the day on 1 March 2018.

Amber weather warnings are in place for frequent and heavy snow showers across much of Scotland, North East and North West England, the East Midlands, East Anglia, South East England, Southern England and the West Midlands.

Where it is safe to do so, Royal Mail Group is delivering and collecting as normal, but there is likely to be significant disruption to services across most of the United Kingdom, with the result that same-day ad-hoc collections and delivery service guarantees nationwide have been suspended on 1 March 2018.

Furthermore, congestion at the Channel crossings is still causing delays for all Royal Mail export services to mainland Europe, and Parcelforce Worldwide guarantees on export services are suspended on Euro Priority and Global Priority services to all mainland Europe, the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland on 1 March 2018.

Royal Mail Group thanks designated operators for their understanding and cooperation and will inform them as soon as the situation returns to normal.

The designated operator of Guatemala, Correos y Telégrafos, asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries of the state of postal services in Guatemala.

The procedure under way to enable Correos y Telégrafos to carry out its activities as designated operator and to hire additional staff is currently in its final phase. As a result, international letter-post, parcel-post and EMS services (inbound and outbound) will continue to be disrupted for at least another four months (end of June 2018).

Correos y Telégrafos asks operators to continue to hold items to be sent to Guatemala until services have been re-established.

Correos y Telégrafos thanks designated operators for their understanding and cooperation and will inform them once services have returned to normal.

From: UPU.EmIS
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2018 7:53 AM
Subject: Subject: EmIS 02/2018 – Great Britain – Flooding

The designated operator of Great Britain, Royal Mail, asks us to inform the designated operators of other UPU member countries that the extreme winds of Storm Eleanor have caused disruptions to deliveries, trunking and ferry connections. The delivery of letter post, parcels and EMS items is being affected nationwide.

Royal Mail thanks designated operators for their understanding and cooperation and will inform them as soon as the situation returns to normal.

From: UPU.EmIS
Sent: Tuesday, January 2, 2018 9:04 AM
Subject: EmIS 1/2018 – Israel – Temporary suspension of inbound customs clearance

The designated operator of Israel, Israel Postal Company Ltd., asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that inbound customs clearance activities will be interrupted between January 10-14, 2018 as a result of the switchover to Shaar Olami (Global Gate), Israel’s next generation computerized customs clearance system.

Although delays are to be expected in the release of postal items, Israel Postal Company Ltd. will make every effort to limit the impact as much as possible.

Israel Postal Company Ltd. thanks designated operators for their understanding.

On January 21, 2018, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is set to increase postage rates for some services.  Note that IMS processing fees will not change at this time.

Here's the approximate overall impact on IMS customer rates for the following services:

• International Priority Airmail (IPA): 2.7%
• International Surface Air Lift (ISAL):  2.6%

More information including rate charts will be going out to all customers within the next week or so.  Please let us know if you have questions or would like comparison quotes prepared at the new pricing.

From: UPU.EmIS
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2017 8:36 AM
Subject: EmIS 108/2017 – Philippines – Special non-working days
Importance: High

The designated operator of the Philippines, Philippine Postal Corporation, wishes to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that, owing to the hosting of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, the Philippine Government has declared 13, 14 and 15 November 2017 special non-working days in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. Delivery of all classes of mail (LC/AO, CP and EMS) will be affected.

Philippine Postal Corporation thanks designated operators for their understanding.

From: UPU.EmIS]
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2017 5:10 AM
Subject: EmIS 107/2017 – Malaysia – Flooding
Importance: High

The designated operator of Malaysia, Pos Malaysia, asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that flooding in the State of Penang has been disrupting collection and delivery of all mail products since Sunday, 5 November 2017.

The following postcode areas are affected: 10000, 10050, 10100, 10150, 10200, 10250, 10300, 10350, 10400, 10450, 10460, 10470, 10500, 10502, 10503, 10504, 10505, 10506, 10508, 10512, 10514, 10516, 10518, 10524, 10534, 10538, 10540, 10542, 10546, 10550, 10551, 10552, 10558, 10560, 10564, 10566, 10570, 10576, 10578, 10582, 10590, 10592, 10593, 10594, 10596, 10600, 10604, 10609, 10610, 10612, 10620, 10622, 10626, 10628, 10634, 10646, 10648, 10660, 10661, 10662, 10670, 10672, 10673, 10674, 10676, 10690, 10710, 10720, 10730, 10740, 10750, 10760, 10770, 10780, 10790, 10800, 10810, 10820, 10830, 10840, 10850, 10910, 10920, 10990, 11000, 11010, 11020, 11050, 11060, 11100, 11200, 11300, 11400, 11409, 11500, 11600, 11609, 11700 and 11800.

Pos Malaysia thanks designated operators for their understanding and cooperation; it will inform them as soon as the situation returns to normal.

UPDATED 11/27/17:  The flooding issues ended on 11/10/17, all services are back to normal.

From: UPU.EmIS
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2017 5:42 AM
Subject: EmIS 81/2017 – Dominica – Hurricane Maria
Importance: High

The Secretariat of the Caribbean Postal Union (CPU), on behalf of the designated operator of Dominica, the Dominica Postal Service, asks us to inform the designated operators of UPU member countries that all postal services have been suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

As reported by the Prime Minister, many buildings, private and public, including the main general hospital and those serving as hurricane shelters, were compromised.   There is no communication with the communities outside of the capital Roseau, but people who have walked into the capital from outlying areas report that all homes have been destroyed.  There is no electricity, running water, or telecommunication services.  There is an urgent need for tarpaulins and other relief supplies.

The CPU Secretariat, on behalf of the Dominica Postal Service, thanks all designated operators for their understanding. It will inform them via EmIS as soon as the situation returns to normal.

Updated 10/27/17:  All services have been restored.

The designated operator of Mexico, Servicio Postal Mexicano, has informed the USPS that due to the earthquake that struck Mexico on Tuesday, 9/19, operations at Mexico City International Airport have been temporarily halted.  The USPS is continuing to accept mail for Mexico and currently expects to resume dispatches on Monday, 9/25.  Customers may anticipate delivery delays. 

Further updates will be provided as additional information is received.