BIZ BUZZ: New year, new shipping rates

When the clock struck midnight to mark the New Year, it was not just fireworks that blasted off. Shipping rates did, too.

Effective Jan. 1, DHL Express raised its shipping charges by 5.9 percent. The international courier citing inflation, currency movements and higher administrative costs due to regulatory and security requirements.

This increase follows a similar adjustment last year and marks a steeper rise than the 4.9-percent hike imposed in 2024.

DHL explained that the 5.9-percent hike isn’t applied uniformly worldwide. Price adjustments vary across the more than 220 countries and territories in its global footprint.

To put it into perspective, sending a 10-kilogram box from Manila to Taipei costs roughly P6,900 under 2025 rates. However, with the recent hike, it can now set customers back as much as P7,300.

“With this annual price adjustment, we can continue to enhance our network’s resilience and adaptability, ensuring consistent support for our customers’ businesses irrespective of external factors,” said Nigel Lockett, country manager director for DHL Express Philippines.