SingPost partners Europe’s Asendia to enhance cross-border e-commerce delivery

[SINGAPORE] Singapore Post (SingPost) entered into a strategic partnership with European cross-border e-commerce and mail solutions provider Asendia on Thursday (May 7).

The partnership aims to improve cross-border e-commerce logistics capabilities, which will enhance delivery performance, scalability and market access for businesses shipping into and out of Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Local customers of the Singapore postal and e-commerce logistics provider will be able to sell and scale their e-commerce business in new markets as they gain access to Asendia’s international network.

The joint venture of French and Swiss national postal operators delivers to more than 200 destinations in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Oceania, supported by last-mile partners.

Asendia’s customers, on the other hand, are able to deliver to Singapore, South-east Asia and the wider Apac region via SingPost’s infrastructure.

Simon Batt, CEO of Asendia, said in an interview on Thursday that about three-quarters of online shoppers in Singapore also buy from overseas brands.

He added, however, that 30 per cent of online buyers in the Asia-Pacific are not fully satisfied with the standard of inbound logistics flows, which is a market challenge that the Asendia-SingPost tie-up hopes to address.

Batt noted that Asendia handled 140 million parcels globally in 2025. Its revenue of 1.1 billion euros (S$1.6 billion) last year was derived mainly from e-commerce-related activities, including mail, parcel delivery, and other value-added services.

Describing the collaboration with SingPost as “a partnership of real complementarity”, Batt said his company has the overseas footprint, while SingPost has the domestic capabilities and connectivity to the region.

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Mark Chong, CEO of SingPost, said the company is rebuilding its international corridor after Cainiao moved away. Cainiao is the logistics arm of Chinese online marketplace operator Alibaba.

“So partners like Asendia are very important for us,” he added.

Lionel Berthe, who heads Asia-Pacific at Asendia, said his company also has a “very strong” presence in China, and that it has been able to handle delivery from China to Singapore using SingPost services.

Asendia has also tapped SingPost for deliveries from Australia to Japan via Singapore, as SingPost enjoys preferential rates with its Japanese counterpart.

Working on solutions for upcoming EU customs duty

Additionally, their tie-up will help customers navigate the upcoming European Union customs duty of three euros on all low-value imports from Jul 1.

Such imports into the bloc, defined as those with a value of up to 150 euros, are now exempted from customs duty.

The tax, aimed at levelling the playing field for traditional retail, has already taken effect in countries where national handling fees are being imposed.

SingPost and Asendia are thus working to offer duty-paid solutions for EU-bound products.

SingPost’s Chong said: “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.”

Last year, when the US changed its import rules, SingPost tapped Asendia to roll out services to tackle the changes for US-bound shipments.

The collaboration comes as Asendia leverages its Singapore hub’s connectivity to serve the region.

For SingPost, the partnership enables it to sharpen its focus on postal service and e-commerce logistics after divesting its Australian logistics and freight forwarding businesses.

In January, SingPost became the exclusive Singapore partner for US firm SkyNet Worldwide Express – the world’s fifth-largest courier and express network.

SingPost shares closed S$0.005 or 1.3 per cent lower at S$0.375 on Thursday, before the annoucement.