Huge hikes in EMS international fees
PHUKET: The cost of sending a letter or parcel abroad via express mail service (EMS) has risen massively due to the increasing cost of fuel, with some prices almost doubling.
For example, whereas it used to cost 480 baht to send a 250-gram printed-paper package via EMS to Israel, it now costs 950 baht; to send the same package to the US now costs 600 baht, compared to 440 baht before the increase.
The price of sending a 250g printed paper package to the United Kingdom has risen from 800 baht to 950 baht, and the cost of sending the same package to Indonesia has increased from 310 baht to 400 baht.
Printed paper packages weighing more than 5.5 kilograms will be charged at the [higher] parcel rate.
The Postmaster of Phuket Post Office, Visal Pongtiwattanakul, told the Gazette, “The price rise has been introduced primarily because the cost of transportation has risen, following the rise in the price of diesel.”
K. Visal added that while charges for EMS within Thailand remained unchanged, he did not know whether increases were on the way for domestic deliveries as well.
Diesel prices have risen 24% since February 22. Meanwhile, aviation fuel is currently about 70% more expensive than in January 2004, and there seems to be no end in sight to the relentless rise in the price.
