On June 17, 2025, DHL Express announced it will suspend all shipments to and from Canada until further notice. The shutdown of DHL Express operations in the country will go into full effect at 00:00 local time on Friday, June 20. The decision stems from ongoing labor action and the implementation of Bill C-58, a new Canadian law that limits contingency measures during work stoppages.

For ecommerce businesses that rely on international shipping services, this is more than just a carrier notice, it’s a significant operational disruption. Whether you’re a DTC brand scaling in North America, a 3PL managing multi-client logistics, or an enterprise retailer shipping across global markets, DHL’s exit from Canada puts pressure on your supply chain.

Carrier reliability is never guaranteed. And when one of the world’s most trusted international services halts operations in an entire region, businesses without flexible systems are left scrambling. This is a critical reminder: resilience in fulfillment isn’t optional, it’s essential.

Why the DHL Suspension Matters to Ecommerce Shippers

DHL Express has long played a central role in cross-border ecommerce, particularly for brands seeking fast, cost-effective delivery to and from Canada. Known for its international reach and reliable courier service, DHL Express is often a preferred carrier for time-sensitive packages and high-value shipments.

This disruption is substantial. Canada is not a fringe market, it’s a key geography for North American fulfillment. Losing DHL Express impacts:

• Delivery timelines, as other carriers like FedEx and UPS absorb displaced volume
• Shipping costs, as businesses compete for available freight capacity
• Operational bandwidth, as support teams manage delays and customer communications
• The ability to fill orders quickly, especially those requiring customs forms or international documents

If your systems are tightly integrated with DHL, the fallout can be severe. This is not just DHL’s issue, it’s a visibility and agility issue for your ecommerce fulfillment.

How the DHL Express Suspension Impacts Your International Shipping Services

Starting June 17 at 9:00 PM ET, DHL Express will cease collections from Canadian locations, affecting:

• All express shipments originating in or destined for Canada
• Packages picked up from Canadian fulfillment centers or warehouses
• Cross-border returns, reverse logistics, and time-sensitive international shipments
• Freight routed through Canadian 3PL hubs serving international customers

DHL Express service suspension impacts ecommerce brands shipping to regions like Europe, Mexico, and Asia-Pacific, especially those using Canadian facilities as an origin point.

What remains operational:

• DHL eCommerce
• DHL Global Forwarding
• DHL Supply Chain
• Post & Parcel Germany

However, DHL Express is the business unit that most ecommerce brands depend on for international shipping services, robust tracking, customs forms, billing, and seamless cross-border delivery.

What Your Business Should Do Now to Navigate the DHL Suspension

The suspension isn’t a temporary hiccup, it’s a sign to reassess your logistics strategy. If your ecommerce operations are heavily dependent on one delivery partner, market, or warehouse, now is the time to build agility.

1. Reassess Your Canadian Supply Chain, Fulfillment Line and International Services

Audit your current shipment routes, address database, and fulfillment flows. Are international packages being processed through Canadian 3PLs? Does your logistics team rely on DHL Express for express international services?

Map out areas at risk and:

• Identify alternate delivery services
• Reroute inventory if necessary
• Review tariff and customs documentation for new shipping routes

2. Leverage Real-Time Rate Shopping Tools

Carrier agility starts with visibility. Use rate shopping solutions to compare UPS, FedEx, and regional courier services in real time. This ensures you're not overpaying or delaying shipments.

Tools like VESYL’s Rate Shop automatically surface the most cost-effective and timely carrier based on live data—including delivery status, origin point, destination, and taxes.

3. Avoid Over-Reliance on a Single Carrier

The DHL suspension shows why a diversified carrier network is essential. If your software or operations are tied to one delivery service, disruptions become bottlenecks.

Multi-carrier platforms like VESYL enable you to:

• Instantly switch routing logic
• Create contingency shipping rules
• Maintain delivery timelines during unexpected changes

4. Communicate Proactively with Customers

Customers understand delays, if they’re informed. Use shipping alerts, post-purchase notifications, and checkout messages to set clear expectations, especially for orders impacted by the suspension.

Consider:

• Offering expedited shipping upgrades
• Sending alerts when shipments are rerouted
• Including packing tips in your email communications to ensure boxes arrive intact

5. Temporarily Reroute Through U.S. Fulfillment Centers

If your Canadian operations are compromised, shift shipments through U.S. fulfillment hubs. This may involve:

• Updating customs forms and origin documentation
• Reevaluating delivery taxes and tariffs for international routes
• Checking compatibility of UPS or FedEx services from your new fulfillment location

6. Automate Contingency Measures

Manual shipping decisions increase during disruptions. With VESYL, you can automate fallback rules, like:

“If DHL Express is unavailable in Canada, reroute via FedEx International Economy.”

This approach reduces team workload and ensures uninterrupted delivery performance across global markets.

How VESYL Helps You Adapt During Carrier Disruptions

Disruptions like the DHL Express shutdown in Canada reveal the fragility of rigid shipping systems. VESYL is built for flexibility. We help businesses:

• Access discounted rates across USPS, UPS, FedEx, OSM, and more
• Automatically shift shipments based on performance, cost, or geographic rules
• Complete labels, customs forms, and international documents quickly and accurately
• Create a consistent post-purchase experience with integrated tracking and returns

Our platform gives ecommerce brands the ability to ship smarter, scale faster, and maintain customer satisfaction—even when a major delivery service halts service.

Need help adapting your international services? Our team is ready to guide you through it.

Final Takeaway: Build Flexibility Into Your Supply Chain

DHL Express handles over 1.7 billion parcels annually. When a global courier of that size stops service in a major region, the ripple effects are felt instantly. But with the right strategy and partners, your business can steer though even the toughest disruptions.

Use this week as a sign to future-proof your logistics. Build a shipping operation that’s flexible and data-driven. VESYL helps companies complete that transformation, without missing a beat.

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Ready to build a more resilient shipping operation? Book a demo with VESYL and see how we can help you adapt faster, ship smarter, and stay ahead of the next disruption.