Platform supports document submission, delivery tracking and duty payment

Non-account holders also eligible; service available in 9 countries including S. Korea

FedEx has introduced an integrated customs duty payment feature to its FedEx Import Tool platform in South Korea. [Provided by FedEx]
FedEx has introduced an integrated customs duty payment feature to its FedEx Import Tool platform in South Korea. [Provided by FedEx]

FedEx announced Monday that it has introduced an integrated customs duty payment feature to its import clearance platform, FedEx Import Tool, in South Korea.

The addition allows domestic importers to handle key customs procedures — from document submission and clearance processing to delivery and customs status tracking and duty payment — on a single digital platform. The service is available to both FedEx account holders and non-account recipients.

Key features include real-time delivery and customs status tracking, advance notifications via email, KakaoTalk and text message, online submission and download of customs documents, and support for multiple payment methods — including credit cards, digital wallets and bank transfers — without requiring a separate login. The service is available in South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Import activity among domestic companies has been growing. According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and the Korea Customs Service, imports by South Korean companies in the second quarter of this year rose 22.4 percent year-on-year to $188.9 billion. Imports by mid-sized companies and small and medium-sized enterprises climbed 19.0 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively.

FedEx said the growing volume of imports has heightened the importance of digital solutions that allow companies to proactively manage customs requirements, including duty payments.

"As global supply chains grow more complex, securing visibility into the import clearance process and responding quickly are becoming increasingly important," Park Won-bin, country manager of FedEx Korea, said. "FedEx Import Tool supports everything from customs status checks and document submission to duty payment on a single platform, reducing the workload for customers and simplifying the import process."

Park added that FedEx would continue to leverage smart digital solutions to help domestic companies adapt to a changing trade environment and optimize their supply chains.

FedEx Import Tool is part of FedEx's digital solution portfolio designed to streamline international shipping and customs procedures for importers and exporters. FedEx Ship Manager, which helps small and medium-sized enterprises manage their delivery operations online, recently integrated AI-based tools to improve document accuracy.

The tools include Customs AI, a chatbot that guides customers in writing accurate product descriptions, and an HTS code lookup function that uses machine learning to identify appropriate tariff classifications, reducing the risk of delivery delays caused by documentation errors.

FedEx is one of the world's largest express delivery companies, providing delivery services to more than 220 countries and territories. It also uses its global air and ground network to deliver time-sensitive shipments quickly at scheduled times and dates.


eyre@heraldcorp.com