India Firm Offers New Shipping Opportunity

The Postal Service and Overnite Express, Ltd., of New Delhi have established a new option for shipping from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – to the United States.

Overnite Express will prepare shipments, transport them to the United States, clear them through commercial customs, and then enter the packages into the Postal Service’s domestic mail delivery network as Priority Mail.

With 14 regional hubs and 800 offices at all major centers in India—including locations in New Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Bangalore—Overnite Express is one of India’s premier courier services. US Smart Sewa, its product name for the shipment of Priority Mail from SAARC countries into the United States, was designed by Overnite Express to meet the needs of India’s widespread business community for a reliable, low-cost shipping solution.

"Clearly, the people at Overnite recognize the value of the Priority Mail brand and the quality of service it brings to their customers," noted John F. Kelly, Postal Service Vice President for Expedited/Package Services. He added, "There’s great potential for new business in the Indian market, one of our nation’s largest export partners. I expect this relationship with Overnite to be a mutually beneficial one.

"The cooperative effort between the Postal Service and Overnite Express can benefit all sectors of the Indian community, branches of U.S. companies in India, including those who are in touch with relatives, friends, or educational institutions or associations, O.P. Rajgarhia, Char and CEO of Overnite Express Ltd.

The USPS Global Business Development group has negotiated similar agreements with commercial enterprises in South Korea, Mexico, Europe, Central America, South America, and Asia, and is seeking to build a global network for premium delivery service from around the world into the United States.

— Expedited/Package Services

— International Business

New Entry Requirements for Publishers' Periodicals and Letter-Post Size Limits

Sections of Publication 51, International Postal Rates and Fees, which pertain to Publishers’ Periodicals and Letter-post size limits are hereby amended to reflect current international mailing procedures.

On page 10 of Publication 51, the last sentence in the first paragraph is revised (the remainder of the text under the Publishers’ Periodicals header is unchanged). The paragraph will now read:

Publishers’ periodicals are domestically approved publications (formerly Second-Class Mail) that include magazines, newspapers, and journals of various types. In order to be eligible for entry under this volume-mail classification, qualifying mailpieces must be tendered by the permit holder or registered news agent who is authorized to enter the specific publication(s) being mailed. Otherwise, the mailer must pay either the airmail letter-post rate or the economy (surface) letter-post rate, whichever is less.

The following mail preparation changes are applicable to airmail and economy (surface). Page 16, Size Limits — Letter-post should now read:

Postcards and Postal Cards

Minimum length and height: 5-½" by 3-½"

Minimum thickness: 0.007"

Maximum length and height: 6" by 4-¼"

Maximum thickness: 0.016

Letter-Post Items in Card Form

Minimum length and height: 5-½" by 3-½"

Minimum thickness: 0.007"

Maximum length and height: 9-¼" by 4-¾"

Maximum thickness: 0.016"

— International Business