Jamaica Post shrinks global parcel network to 44 countries
Published:Wednesday | November 5, 2025 | 12:08 AM
The Postal Corporation of Jamaica, which operates as Jamaica Post, has scaled back its outbound deliveries to currently one-quarter of the world nations, and that’s before factoring in disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The slowdown has frustrated small businesses that rely on postal deliveries. Prior to the pandemic, deliveries were open to roughly 195 nations, based on the destinations for which parcel postage rates were listed online by the postal service. It now delivers to 44 countries, down from 61 a year ago.
Jamaica Post said in an advisory to customers that “outbound mail items to some destinations continue to be affected by factors beyond our control”, while outlining the country destinations it continues to service.
Jamaica Post said it is working with “partners and stakeholders to regularise outbound deliveries”, but no timeline has been provided for full restoration.
In relation to the United States, the agency attributed the parcel suspension to policy changes, specifically the revocation of the de minimis exemption previously allowed for packages valued under US$800 to enter the United States duty-free.
Canada, another key destination, experienced its own disruption due to a Canada Post strike at the end of September. But even before those events, Jamaica Post cited a “lack of flights” as the primary reason for delays and non-delivery to several destinations.
The 44-country list, effective September 26, includes major trading partners such as Canada, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and the United States, with the US service limited to letters only. Checks by the Financial Gleaner indicate that even with the reduced list, postal deliveries remain inconsistent.
“We do not have an available flight to the destination; once a flight becomes available, the item will be dispatched,” Jamaica Post said, when asked about deliveries to Germany, a country still listed as active.
Also, customers continue to report returned or undelivered packages. On Instagram, small business Perfectly Trendy with 25,000 followers posted to Jamaica Post: “I sent a package to the British Virgin Islands and it was returned. Why is it on the list?” Another user, Pokeretofan, criticised the timing and transparency of the advisory: “This makes no sense ... just shows the state of the country and the postal service. No preparation whatsoever. This must be a joke.”
The Postal Corporation of Jamaica processed 8.4 million pieces of mail in 2024, spanning letters, registered small packets, larger parcels, and ordinary mail. That figure represents a 17 per cent decline compared to the previous year, continuing a downward trend from the pandemic peak of over 28 million units in 2020.
Prior to the pandemic, mail volumes were rising steadily, buoyed by e-commerce growth and small business exports. But in April 2020, the postal service — like much of the world — entered lockdown. Since then, it has reopened gradually, though international service remains volatile.
The latest reduction to 44 delivery destinations, effective September 2025, marks a renewed contraction driven by flight shortages and global disruptions.
During the pandemic, delivery was limited to just two countries, United States and Trinidad & Tobago, in June 2020, according to post office’s press releases. By September 2021 the number of destinations had risen to nine, by May 2022 the number had climbed to 46 countries, increased to 50 by October 2023, and peaked at 61 in November 2024.
With the reach of parcel flows now reduced, the Postal Corporation of Jamaica is projecting $80 million in losses for the fiscal year ending March 2026, up from losses of $72 million the previous year.
The full list of available destinations spans Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Island, China, Cuba, Curaçao, Denmark, Dominica, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain (UK), Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Martinique, Netherlands (Holland), Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Vincent, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and United States for letters and documents only.