Asendia & SingPost forge cross-border eCommerce tie-up

Asendia and Singapore Post have formed a strategic partnership focused on cross-border eCommerce logistics, with Singapore positioned as a gateway for shipments into and out of the Asia-Pacific region.

The tie-up connects Asendia's international parcel network with SingPost's domestic and regional infrastructure, giving merchants broader shipping options across Asia-Pacific and overseas markets. It is intended to improve parcel flows for sellers shipping to Singapore, Southeast Asia and other parts of the region, while expanding access for Singapore-based merchants selling abroad.

The partnership comes as online retail supply chains face renewed pressure from changes to customs rules in major markets. One of the most significant for low-value goods is the European Union's plan to end the €150 de minimis customs duty exemption and apply a flat €3 customs duty to all low-value imports.

According to SingPost, those changes follow the suspension of de minimis exemptions in the United States and add another layer of administration for exporters. In response, the two companies are developing Delivered Duty Paid services for shipments to the EU to reduce disruption for merchants as the new regime takes effect.

For Asendia, the arrangement builds on its existing Asia-Pacific presence, including its Singapore hub operation. International brands and marketplace sellers on platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Etsy use that network to move parcels into Singapore and other markets in the region.

Under the agreement, SingPost's eCommerce customers in Singapore will be able to use Asendia's network to send goods to Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Oceania. At the same time, Asendia customers will gain stronger access to Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific corridor through SingPost's network.

Merchants using both groups will have access to services including home delivery, out-of-home delivery and returns. Returns management has become an increasing challenge for cross-border sellers, particularly as customs checks have tightened and consumers expect better delivery tracking.

Customs pressure

Cross-border eCommerce operators have been adjusting to a more demanding policy environment as governments review tax collection and the treatment of low-value imports. Singapore stands out in that context because a large share of online shoppers in the country already buy from overseas sellers, making it both an end market and a transit point for regional trade.

That position has helped make the city-state a logistics hub for merchants serving consumers across Southeast Asia, where eCommerce volumes continue to grow but delivery networks remain fragmented. A partnership combining international linehaul and customs handling with local delivery access could help merchants simplify those routes.

Mark Chong, Chief Executive Officer of SingPost, said the customs changes were reshaping the trading environment for exporters. "This partnership comes at a critical juncture for global trade. Following the US suspension of de minimis exemptions in August 2025, the upcoming July 2026 EU reform introduces new regulations for exporting businesses to navigate."

He added: "By extending our cross-border partnerships, we are providing businesses with the support to manage these complexities, ensuring that our customers can maintain access to these markets, minimising the risk of delivery friction or doorstep rejection."

Regional demand

Asendia pointed to survey data showing that retailers in Asia-Pacific continue to face practical barriers when selling across borders. These include border delays, customs clearance issues and returns handling, all of which can affect delivery times, costs and customer satisfaction.

Lionel Berthe, Head of APAC at Asendia, said: "Asendia's Beyond Borders survey shows that 32% of retailers in APAC cite border delays, customs clearance, and cross-border returns as key friction points. This partnership directly addresses those challenges, with Singapore as a core focus market, while enabling scalable and cost-effective cross-border growth across the wider region."

Asendia is active in more than 200 destinations worldwide, while SingPost serves customers in more than 220 destinations and employs about 3,000 people. The link-up gives both operators a stronger position in a market where merchants are seeking fewer handovers, clearer customs treatment, and more predictable delivery and returns services.