Shopping fever abroad: courier shipments grew 105% in January

The simplification of import procedures , as well as the non-renewal of the PAIS Tax , which lowers costs in dollars, has generated a flood of requests. Among the most important changes implemented by the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA) and which has a direct impact on the merchandise reception system, is the increase of the purchase limit from US$1,000 to US$3,000 and the modification of the weight limit from 50 kilos per shipment to 50 kilos per package.

Another change is that goods up to US$400 do not pay import duties, only VAT. Above this figure and up to US$3,000, the difference pays import duties, which can reach between 0% and 35%, depending on the product.

The Government repealed the Statistical System of Imports (SEDI): “It met its objectives”

"The measures taken by the national government have revolutionized foreign trade, far exceeding the almost 4,000 packages a day that used to arrive in the country a year ago," said Gabriel Salomón, a foreign trade specialist and general director of Jidoka.

According to Salomón, this growth is due to the presence of two giants such as Amazon, which launched shipping to Argentina for US$5 for some products and free for others. MercadoLibre is also adding promotions.

Ezeiza is prepared to receive around 1,500 packages a day and it is estimated that with these two operators alone it will receive 10,000 packages, not counting Alibaba, AliExpress, Main and other platforms that are requesting quotes from couriers in Argentina. For this reason, Salomón estimates the arrival of 30,000 shipments a day from China alone.

According to figures from Aeropuertos Argentina, the number of packages increased from 118,394 in December 2024 to 151,462 in January 2025. In January 2024, with all the exchange and import restrictions, some 54,000 packages had arrived in the country.

The Argentine Chamber of International Aeroexpress Service Providers (Capsia ) estimated that the volume in December 2024 grew by 134.06% compared to November and in January it registered another monthly jump of 20.22%. Compared to January 2024, the growth was 105.5%.

This was also reflected in the trade balance statistics, where courier purchases increased 122.6% year-on-year, reaching US$ 48 million in January , according to INDEC.

Expansion in Ezeiza

The flood of packages prompted Aeropuertos Argentina to undertake work on the Single Courier Terminal in Ezeiza, “a specific building intended for such purposes, substantially expanding the existing operating space and enabling optimal organization and distribution of merchandise. This will allow for faster processing of packages in the face of an increasing volume,” the company said. The investment will be around US$ 6 million and it is estimated that it will be completed by the end of this year.

Aerolíneas Argentinas joins the courier trend

The company relaunched its courier service from Miami, United States, with home delivery in all the cities where it operates in Argentina , offering a reliable and accessible option for those who make international purchases with the convenience of not having to complete any paperwork and the security of receiving it at home, the company reported in a statement.

Each shipment to Argentina may contain all the products eligible for courier service that the user wishes to receive at home, as long as a maximum weight per piece of 50 kg and a maximum value of all products per shipment of US$ 3,000 are respected. In addition, three products of the same type may not be combined in the same shipment.

For comparison, if you were to make a purchase through an online sales platform with direct shipping to Argentina, each purchase would consume one of the five international shipments allowed. However, with this service, you can accumulate all the products you want in a single shipment, respecting the limits mentioned.

The service includes transport to Argentina, customs procedures and final delivery to the customer's address. Customs taxes and VAT are included in the process , as applicable, at the time of shipment.

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