In the current era of booming global e-commerce, the Saudi e-commerce market has attracted numerous cross-border e-commerce sellers with its vast consumption potential and active digital transformation. The Saudi e-commerce express service, as a crucial link connecting sellers and Saudi consumers, holds self-evident importance. A deep understanding of its various aspects not only helps sellers deliver goods to their destinations smoothly but also enables them to better plan their operational strategies, effectively control costs, and enhance their competitiveness. Today, we will dissect the Saudi e-commerce express service in detail and incorporate an analysis of goods transportation.
I. Pricing Standards
Weight Interval Pricing
In the Saudi e-commerce express service, the weight pricing rules are rather meticulous. When the weight of the goods is below 20 kg, the charge is calculated based on increments of 0.5 kg. This means that even if the weight of the goods exceeds a certain 0.5 kg integer unit by just a tiny bit, the Saudi e-commerce express will calculate the freight according to the next 0.5 kg tier. When the weight reaches 20 kg or more, the charge is calculated based on increments of 1 kg. For example, for a 20.1 kg shipment, the freight will be calculated as if it were 21 kg when transported via the Saudi e-commerce express.
From the perspective of transportation cost analysis, this finely divided charging method strongly encourages sellers to control the weight of their goods more precisely. For some goods close to multiples of 0.5 kg or 1 kg, reasonable adjustments to packaging or product attachments may result in significant savings on freight costs. Especially for sellers focusing on small, high-profit products, accurately controlling the weight with the help of the Saudi e-commerce express can directly boost profit margins.
Volumetric Weight Calculation
The volumetric weight calculation method for the Saudi e-commerce express is: Length (CM) × Width (CM) × Height (CM) ÷ 6000. However, for PACK packages with an actual weight within 2 KG (standard size 36 CM × 28 CM), the volumetric weight is not counted. This provides a certain pricing advantage for some goods that are large in volume but light in weight, such as fluffy textiles and foam packaging products. But if the goods do not meet the conditions for excluding volumetric weight, both the actual weight and the volumetric weight need to be considered, and the larger value will be used to calculate the freight for the Saudi e-commerce express.
During the product packaging design stage, sellers need to carefully balance the need for product protection and volume control to avoid a significant increase in volumetric weight due to over-packaging, which would unnecessarily increase the transportation cost of the Saudi e-commerce express. For example, adopting a compact and regular packaging shape can not only effectively protect the goods during transportation by the Saudi e-commerce express but also control the volume and reduce freight risks.
II. VAT Fees and Customs Declaration Service Charges
VAT Fee Collection
The Saudi e-commerce express channel charges VAT at 15% of the declared value. This is a policy implemented by the Saudi government to regulate e-commerce trade taxation. Sellers must fill in the declared value of the goods truthfully when using the Saudi e-commerce express for shipping. Otherwise, if the customs discovers that the declared value does not match the actual value, they may face fines and other penalties, and it will also severely affect the customs clearance time of the goods through the Saudi e-commerce express.
From the perspective of the goods transportation process of the Saudi e-commerce express, accurate declaration of value is a crucial step in ensuring smooth customs clearance. False declaration of value may not only lead to financial risks but also cause the goods to be detained at customs, delaying the transportation time of the Saudi e-commerce express and bringing a poor experience to consumers, which in turn affects the store’s reputation.
Customs Declaration Service Charge
For all low-value express parcels (with a declared value lower than 1000 SAR or 265 USD) transported via the Saudi e-commerce express, a minimum customs declaration processing service charge of 35 RMB per shipment is levied by the Saudi customs. This fee is to cover the labor and material costs incurred by the customs when handling the customs declaration procedures for low-value parcels. For sellers of low-value commodities, although the single-shipment customs declaration service charge may seem insignificant, when shipping in large quantities using the Saudi e-commerce express, the cumulative amount can be a non-negligible cost.
When formulating product pricing strategies, this fixed cost needs to be taken into account to ensure that the products are price-competitive in the Saudi market while guaranteeing profit margins and maximizing the benefits of using the Saudi e-commerce express.
III. Peak Season Surcharge
During the peak e-commerce shopping seasons, such as major local Saudi festivals (like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) and global shopping sprees (like Black Friday and Cyber Monday), due to the explosive growth in logistics demand via the Saudi e-commerce express, express channels will levy a peak season surcharge. The specific surcharge amount will vary depending on different Saudi e-commerce express service providers and the logistics market conditions of the year. Sellers need to be aware of this in advance and factor this cost into their product pricing and operational budgets to avoid affecting profits. From the dynamic analysis of the supply and demand of Saudi e-commerce express transportation, logistics resources are tight during the peak season.
Express companies charge surcharges to balance the supply-demand contradiction and maintain service quality, which is understandable. If sellers fail to anticipate this cost fluctuation in advance, they may face a situation where order volume increases but profits decline during the peak season. Advance inventory planning, reasonable arrangement of shipping batches via the Saudi e-commerce express, and negotiating long-term cooperation with express companies for preferential terms are effective strategies to cope with the peak season surcharge and ensure the smooth operation of the Saudi e-commerce express business during the peak season.
IV. Product Advantages
Acceptance of Products with Batteries
One of the significant advantages of the Saudi e-commerce express service is its ability to handle products with batteries, including built-in batteries and accessory batteries (excluding pure electric products and liquids). This provides great convenience for many electronics sellers. Electronic products with batteries, such as mobile phones, tablets, and electric toys, can be smoothly transported via the Saudi e-commerce express. However, it should be noted that the power of the built-in or accessory batteries cannot exceed 100W.
In the Saudi market where the demand for transporting electronic products is growing, this advantage of the Saudi e-commerce express allows sellers to reach consumers directly without having to search for special logistics channels. At the same time, meeting the battery power limit requirements not only ensures the safety of transportation by the Saudi e-commerce express but also complies with local regulatory regulations, facilitating quick customs clearance of the goods.
Direct Shipment to Destination Country and Fast Express Clearance
The Saudi e-commerce express adopts the method of direct shipment to the destination country, reducing intermediate transshipment links and minimizing the risks of goods damage and loss. Additionally, the Saudi e-commerce express utilizes an express customs clearance model, which, compared to general trade customs clearance, has a more streamlined process and can effectively improve customs clearance speed, with a reference time of around 4 – 7 days. This enables consumers to receive their purchased goods faster, enhancing the shopping experience.
For sellers, it also helps improve customer satisfaction and repeat purchase rates. From the perspective of the entire transportation process of the Saudi e-commerce express, reducing transshipment links not only shortens the transportation time but also reduces the probability of goods damage during multiple loading and unloading processes. The express customs clearance model adapts to the characteristics of e-commerce shipments in small batches and multiple frequencies, accelerating the entry of goods into the Saudi market and providing strong support for sellers to seize market opportunities, highlighting the high efficiency of the Saudi e-commerce express.
Effective Reduction of Customs Clearance Risks
Professional Saudi e-commerce express service providers are familiar with the customs clearance requirements and procedures of the Saudi customs. They can assist sellers in preparing all necessary customs clearance documents in advance, such as commercial invoices, certificates of origin, cargo manifests, packing lists, SASO certifications (with slightly different requirements for different products). This effectively reduces the risks of customs clearance and minimizes the possibility of goods being detained or returned due to customs clearance issues. In cross-border e-commerce goods transportation, customs clearance is a critical link.
Once problems occur, issues such as goods detention, fines, and delivery delays will follow. By relying on the professional customs clearance services of the Saudi e-commerce express, sellers can focus more on product operation and market expansion, ensuring the continuity and stability of goods transportation and making the Saudi e-commerce express a powerful assistant for sellers to expand their business.
V. Acceptance Instructions
Scope of Acceptance for General Cargo and Cosmetics
The Saudi e-commerce express channel accepts all general cargo products except prohibited items. In terms of cosmetics, it can handle common categories such as facial cleansers, facial masks, lip glosses, lipsticks, powder compacts, mascaras, eye shadows, toothpastes, lotions, and concealers. This provides solid logistics support for beauty industry sellers looking to expand into the Saudi market. Understanding the acceptance range of the Saudi e-commerce express helps sellers determine whether their products are suitable for this express channel and avoid shipping disruptions due to product incompatibility.
For beauty products, the Saudi market demand is diverse, and the categories accepted by the Saudi e-commerce express basically cover the mainstream products of daily beauty consumption. Sellers can optimize their product portfolios based on local market preferences and use the Saudi e-commerce express to quickly stock their products and rapidly penetrate the Saudi market.
Battery Product Restrictions
Although the Saudi e-commerce express can handle products with built-in batteries and accessory batteries, there is a clear power limit, that is, the power of the built-in or accessory batteries cannot exceed 100W. Sellers must carefully confirm the battery parameters of their products before using the Saudi e-commerce express for shipping to ensure compliance. Otherwise, the goods may not pass security checks and customs clearance.
In the transportation of electronic products, compliance with battery parameters is a fundamental condition. Goods that do not meet the power requirements cannot be transported normally via the Saudi e-commerce express and may face the risk of return shipment, incurring additional costs. Sellers should strictly control battery specifications during the procurement or production stage to ensure that their products meet the transportation standards of the Saudi e-commerce express and guarantee smooth transportation of the goods.
VI. Size Limitations
The Saudi e-commerce express has size limitations for goods: 120 CM × 80 CM × 80 CM, with no single side exceeding 120 CM. For oversized goods, it is essential to confirm with the Saudi e-commerce express in advance. Because oversized goods may require special transportation equipment and customs clearance procedures, and the costs will increase accordingly. If shipped without prior confirmation, the goods may not be able to be transported normally via the Saudi e-commerce express and may even be returned.
From the perspective of transportation operations, oversized goods face challenges in warehousing, loading and unloading, and adaptation to transportation tools. By confirming the size requirements in advance, sellers can optimize the product packaging design stage, such as using split packaging or custom-made special-shaped packaging, to ensure that the goods meet the size requirements and avoid unnecessary transportation obstacles, ensuring the smooth operation of the Saudi e-commerce express business.
VII. Quantity Requirements
The Saudi e-commerce express channel only accepts single-piece shipments per waybill. This requires sellers to arrange the packaging of goods reasonably when packing and shipping to avoid combining multiple parcels into a multi-piece shipment per waybill, as this may not meet the requirements of the Saudi e-commerce express channel and affect goods transportation. This regulation simplifies the operation process of the Saudi e-commerce express, facilitating the sorting, transportation, and customs clearance management of goods. Sellers need to plan packaging solutions based on product characteristics and order requirements to ensure single-piece shipments per waybill and guarantee the smooth flow of goods in the Saudi e-commerce express.
VIII. Prohibited Items
Religious and Special Categories
The Saudi e-commerce express strictly prohibits the transportation of the Quran and adult products. As the holy scripture of Islam, the Quran has strict regulations regarding its transportation and storage and is not allowed to be transported through ordinary e-commerce express channels. Adult products, due to involving local cultural and moral norms, are also listed as prohibited items. Respecting local religious beliefs and cultural customs is a fundamental principle of cross-border e-commerce operations. Violating the prohibited regulations of the Saudi e-commerce express will not only lead to the failure of goods transportation but may also trigger a serious public relations crisis and damage the brand image. Therefore, sellers must strictly abide by these regulations.
Electronic and Security Products
Walkie-talkies, cameras, security surveillance products, etc. are also prohibited by the Saudi e-commerce express. This is because these products may involve communication security and privacy protection issues, and the Saudi customs has strict control over them. Such products have strict sales and use regulatory mechanisms in Saudi Arabia, and transporting them through the Saudi e-commerce express without permission is an illegal act. Sellers must strictly avoid this to ensure that their goods meet the transportation requirements of the Saudi e-commerce express.
Other Dangerous and Special Items
Pure batteries, liquids, alcohol, powdered substances, food, laser pointers, pharmaceuticals, all medical devices, flammable and explosive materials, drones, firearms and weapons, and other items restricted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are prohibited from being transported through the Saudi e-commerce express. These items either pose safety hazards (such as flammable and explosive materials) or require special transportation qualifications and supervision (such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices) and cannot be transported through ordinary e-commerce express channels.
Ensuring that goods do not contain prohibited items is a necessary requirement for ensuring the safety of transportation by the Saudi e-commerce express and complying with regulations. Sellers must carefully check before selecting products and shipping to avoid unnecessary troubles.
IX. Customs Clearance Instructions
Customs Clearance Mode
The Saudi e-commerce express channel adopts a B2C private parcel express customs clearance mode. This customs clearance mode is mainly designed for small-batch shopping parcels of individual consumers, and the customs clearance process is relatively streamlined but has specific requirements. For e-commerce sellers, using the B2C customs clearance mode of the Saudi e-commerce express enables them to respond quickly to consumer demands and achieve small-batch, high-frequency shipments.
But at the same time, they also need to be familiar with its rules, such as accurately filling in the recipient’s information, reasonably declaring the value of the goods, and ensuring that the content of the parcel complies with relevant regulations. Only in this way can they ensure smooth customs clearance and the high efficiency of Saudi e-commerce express transportation.
Quantity Limit of Products in a Parcel
The Saudi e-commerce express can accept multiple products in a single parcel, but does not accept more than 3 pieces of a single SKU. If the quantity of a single SKU exceeds 3 pieces, it is likely to be defined as a commercial shipment by the destination customs. Once identified as a commercial shipment, the customs clearance process will become more complicated, requiring more documents to be provided and higher taxes and fees to be paid in accordance with the requirements of general trade customs clearance.
Moreover, if the goods are defined as a commercial shipment or involve prohibited items, resulting in customs detention, fines, customs duties, VAT, and other miscellaneous fees, our company will not bear these costs and will directly charge the shipper. So when packing and shipping, sellers must strictly control the quantity of a single SKU, follow the customs clearance requirements of the Saudi e-commerce express, avoid unnecessary customs clearance troubles, and ensure the smooth transportation of goods via the Saudi e-commerce express.
The Saudi e-commerce express service has clear and detailed regulations in terms of pricing, product acceptance, and customs clearance. Sellers can only ensure the smooth transportation of their goods via the Saudi e-commerce express and achieve stable development in the Saudi e-commerce market by fully understanding and strictly adhering to these rules. We hope the above content provides valuable reference for all sellers. Wish everyone great success in the Saudi e-commerce field!