DHL Worldwide Express is to introduce a service to enable shippers to determine in advance the charges likely to be imposed by foreign customs authorities.
A pilot programme of the service will be implemented early this year.
The service will be offered to United States customers in the first phase and later expanded to Asia, Europe and elsewhere.
'The landed-cost service DHL offers in collaboration with Syntra Technologies is a valuable tool for shippers who wish to explore the full potential of e-commerce on a global basis,' DHL Asia-Pacific-Middle East chief executive Charles Longley said.
Many companies, especially those with Internet operations, had found the inability to quote such costs precluded them entering international markets, he said.
The landed-cost service is expected to be available on the DHL Web site, through DHL's desktop shipping software, DHL Connect and its EasyShip proprietary shipping systems.