Global Event Observer

The Observer informs you about current international events that might affect your international letter or packet shipments.

Coming Weeks

Norway	1-Jun- 7-Aug	Postal services back to normal: On August 8, Posten Norge indicated that the IT issues that led to problems with the transmission of EDI messages since June were resolved on August 7. Postal operations have reportedly normalized.
Bhutan	25-Jun- 13-Aug	Postal services in Bhutan normalize: The Bhutan Post reported on August 13 that delivery services across Bhutan have returned to normal after encountering disruptions since June 25 due to the monsoon onset. The heavy monsoon rain reportedly triggered landslides, which temporarily blocked roads in most parts of the country, thus affecting the on-time delivery of all inbound mail.
Spain	1-Jul- 1-Sep	Airport workers plan multiple strikes: On June 30, local media sources indicate that the Aena airport workers plan multiple strikes at Bilbao Airport between July 1 and September 1. For July, planned dates for the industrial actions are 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 24, 25, 28 and 31. Flight cancellations have already been announced for flights to Barcelona, Munich, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Further disruptions to airport operations are expected through September 1.
Italy	19-Jul- 9-Aug	Postal operations normalize: On August 9, Poste Italiane indicated that Cagliari Airport has fully reopened following two additional nighttime closures due to urgent works at the airport. Postal operations across Sardinia have reportedly normalized.
Italy	19-Jul- 9-Aug	Airport closure to affect postal services: On August 2, Poste Italiane indicated that Cagliari Airport will be closed again during night time between August 5 and August 6 as well as August 8 and August 9 due to additional works at the airport. The closure is likely to affect postal services in the area.
Malta	26-Jul- 9-Aug	MaltaPost solves IT issues: MaltaPost reported on August 9 that the intermittent IT issues that caused disruptions to the transmission of EDI messages since July 26 have been resolved. Operations have reportedly returned to normal on August 9.
Italy	27-Jul- 27-Oct	Milano Linate Airport to close for maintenance: On June 21, Poste Italiane reported that Milano Linate (LIN) airport will be closed to all air traffic from July 27 until October 27 due to maintenance work. The closure will not affect exchange; however, Poste Italiane requests that flights used to transport mail destined for Italy divert to Milan's Malpensa Airport (MXP).
Hong Kong	31-Jul-2-Aug	Postal services normalize: The Hongkong Post indicates on August 2 that postal services across Hong Kong are back to normal on August 2 after being temporarily disrupted due to Tropical Storm Wipha.
Chile	1-2-Aug	Customs workers to strike nationwide: Media sources indicated on July 31 that the National Association of Customs Officials of Chile has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike on August 1. Associated delays are likely to occur at customs checkpoints as thousands of customs workers are expected to participate in the strike.
India	1-Aug	Heavy rainfall affects airport operations: On August 1, media sources indicate that operations at Vadodara International Airport have been suspended until at least 9 am local time on August 2 due to flooding following heavy rainfall. The disruptions are likely to persist as more rain is forecast throughout the week.
Vietnam	2-5-Aug	Postal services normalize: Vietnam Post reports on August 5 that its postal services have resumed following disruptions due to the passage of Tropical Storm Wipha on August 2. Inward and outward mail services were reportedly disrupted from August 2 to August 5.
Philippines	2-Aug	Flooding disrupts road traffic: Media sources report on August 2 that flash flooding throughout Manila is disrupting traffic across the city, with several roads being inaccessible due to the flooding. Disruptions are expected to persist as more heavy rain is forecast throughout the weekend.
Hong Kong	3-Aug	Demonstrations disrupt postal services: The HongKong Post indicates on August 14 that a series of demonstrations, which resulted in the blockage of streets across Hong Kong since August 3, has disrupted the processing of all inbound, outbound and local mail. Further disruptions should be expected as demonstrations continue.
Hong Kong	5-Aug	Flights cancelled due to protests: On August 5, media scources indicate that over 200 flights were cancelled at Hong Kong International Airport after protesters disrupted transport services across the city. In particular, Cathaz Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines have been affected. It remains unclear when the situation will be back to normal.
Great Britain	6-Aug	Strike may disrupt air traffic: Media sources report that British Airways (BA) may face industrial actions by the first week of August after 93 per cent of 4,000 BA pilots voted in favor to stage strike actions over wage issues. The earliest possible strike date is predicted to be August 6. Disruptions to air traffic should be expected if the strike takes place.
Mexico	8-9-Aug	Protesters to block highways across Mexico: On August 6, media sources indicated that members of the National Union of Agricultural Workers plan to block several highways and toll booths across Mexico. The protest is expected to begin at 9 am local time on August 8 and last until August 9. The blockages are likely to severely disrupt ground transportation across the country.
Taiwan	8-Aug	Typhoon Lekima to impact northern Taiwan: Local media sources report on August 7 that Tropical Storm Lekima has strengthened into a Typhoon and is likely to reach between Ryukyu Islands, Japan and northern Taiwan by August 9. Associated disruptions are likely to occur in the region, due to heavy rain and strong winds.
India	9-Aug	Flooding persists amid monsoon season: Media sources indicate on August 16 that flooding continues to impact a number of states in western India, particularly Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Although floodwaters are receding in some locations, many roadways and train services remain disrupted and further flooding-related issues are expected to persist as monsoon season rain continues.
Nepal	9-15-Aug	Postal operations resume: On August 14, the Nepal Post indicated that postal operations have normalized after the relocation of its General Office in Kathmandu disrupted services since August 9.
India	9-Aug	Flooding continues to disrupt road traffic: Updated media sources report on August 13 that flooding continues to disrupt road traffic throughout numerous states in western India, particularly in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat. Flooding related issues are likely to persist as more rain is forecast for the coming days.
China	9-Aug	Super Typhoon Lekima to hit China: On August 9, media sources report that super Typhoon Lekima is heading towards the coastal areas of China, and is likely to make landfall near Wenzhou on August 10. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to cause flooding-related disruptions throughout the following week.
India	9-Aug	Flooding causes widespread disruptions: Media sources indicate on August 9, that monsoon rain led to widespread flooding-related disruptions across western and southern India. The national highway section between Mumbai and Bengaluru was flooded and left many cargo carriers stranded. In addition, Cochin International Airport in Kerala has been closed until at least 3 pm local time on August 11. Flooding-related disruptions are expected to persist for up to five days.
Nepal	9-12-Aug	Office relocation disrupts postal services: The Nepal Post reported on August 7 that its General Office in Kathmandu is being relocated from Sundhara to Dillibajar in the coming days. As a result, the office will be closed for parcels and EMS items from August 9 to August 12, however, letter services will continue to function as normal.
Hong Kong	12-Aug	Airport operations disrupted due to protests: On August 12, media sources indicated that the Hong Kong Airport was shutdown due to a sit-in protest with all outgoing flights being suspended. Some airport operations have since resumed, however, delays persist and over 300 flights have been canceled for August 13. Expect further disruptions as more protests are planned for August 13.
Portugal	12-Aug	Strike may disrupt postal operations: On August 7, CTT Correios indicated that the nationwide strike scheduled by fuel and dangerous goods drivers on August 12 will likely disrupt postal services at airports across Portugal. The duration and extent of the impact are not yet known.
Japan	15-Aug	Tropical Storm Krosa disrupts Japan: On August 16, media sources report that Tropical Storm Krosa continues to disrupt parts of Japan. The Japanese Meteorological Agency warned of record rainfall in Pacific coastal areas as well as landslides and floods. The storm also brought strong winds which uprooted trees, caused high waves and inundated roads across the affected regions.
Japan	15-Aug	Tropical Storm Krosa makes landfall: On August 15, media sources indicate that Tropical Storm Krosa made a landfall near Kure city in the Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan, on the afternoon of August 15. Nearly 700 flights have been cancelled at Haneda, Kansai, Chubu and Itami airports. Road disruptions are likely to occur in the region, due to heavy rain and strong winds.
France	24-26-Aug	G7 summit to impact postal delivery: On July 30, La Poste reports that the holding of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, will impact postal services from August 24 to August 26. No parcels will be delivered in Biarritz during this time while postal services in Hendaye, Ascain, Mouguerre, St Martin de Seignanx, Boucau and Tarnos are expected to be disrupted.
Uruguay	28-Aug	General strike may disrupt postal services: Media sources report that the PIT-CNT trade union has called for a nationwide general strike from 9 am to 1 pm local time on August 28. The level of participation has not been reported yet but unions associated with PIT-CNT also represent the postal sector, which may be disrupted if the strike goes ahead.

Service Disruption is provided by DHL as a courtesy to its customers. DHL is not responsible and assumes no liability for any inaccuracies, which may be contained within.
This information and its composition is based on selected high quality sources. The professional research, analysis and consolidation process is carried out by Resilience360, a cloud-based supply chain risk management solution.

Past Events

Norway	1-Jun	IT issues disrupt postal service: Posten Norge reported on August 5 that it has been experiencing issues with sending EDI messages since June due to a change to its IT system. No detailed information as to when the problems started or when they will be resolved was provided.
Spain	1-Jul- 1-Sep	Airport workers plan multiple strikes: On June 30, local media sources indicate that the Aena airport workers plan multiple strikes at Bilbao Airport between July 1 and September 1. For July, planned dates for the industrial actions are 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 24, 25, 28 and 31. Flight cancellations have already been announced for flights to Barcelona, Munich, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Further disruptions to airport operations are expected through September 1.
Italy	19-Jul	Airport operations resume gradually: Poste Italiane reports on July 31 that operations at Cagliari Airport are gradually resuming following its reopening on July 30. Some additional work will be carried out in the area in the coming days but no specific dates have been confirmed yet.
Italy	19-30-Jul	Urgent work affects postal services: On July 26, Poste Italiane indicates that the closure of Cagliari Airport due to urgent works between 10 pm and 4 am local time since July 19, has been affecting the processing of letters, parcels and EMS items. In particular, Cagliari and the eastern part of Sardinia have been affected.The airport is expected to fully reopen from July 30.
Italy	19-30-Jul	Airport closes due to urgent works: Poste Italiane reported on July 20 that the Cagliari Airport will be closed again from July 19 to July 30 due to further urgent works. Postal services in the region might be delayed during this time.
Great Britain	21-23-Jul	Air traffic controllers to strike: Media sources indicated on July 10 that the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) air traffic controllers plan to strike at several Scottish airports in the United Kingdom. The 24-hour strikes are planned as following: Inverness Airport on July 21; Sumburgh and Kirkwall airports on July 22; and Stornoway, Benbecula and Dundee airports on July 23.
China	23-Jul	Landslides disrupt road transportation: On July 24, media sources indicate that over 20 landslides have been reported in several locations in southeastern China. The most affected areas include the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Yunnan, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangdong. No timeline as to when the weather situation would normalise was immediately provided.
Mexico	23-Jul	Flooding affects road traffic: Media sources report on July 24 that significant flooding following heavy rainfall has affected road traffic across Oaxaca State in Mexico. Many major routes have been flooded, particularly in San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec. No timeline as to when the situation would normalize was immediately provided.
Italy	24-29-Jul	Sorting centre operations back to normal: Poste Italiane indicated on July 29 that the situation at its sorting centre in Cagliari has been back to normal since July 29 following a fire that broke out on July 24.
Italy	24-Jul	Sorting centre partially reopens: Poste Italiane indicates on July 26 that its sorting centre in Cagliari has partially reopened following a fire that broke out during the night of July 24. Further delays for inbound and outbound mail sorted in Cagliari are expected to persist for areas with postcodes from 07000 to 09999. No timeline as to when the sorting centre would fully reopen was provided.
Italy	24-Jul	Fire disrupts postal services: Poste Italiane reports on July 25 that a fire broke out in the server area of its sorting centre in Cagliari during the night of July 24. The building will remain closed until an inspection is completed. No information as to when operations will restart was immediately available.
Netherlands	24-Jul	Fuel disruption impacts flight operations: Media sources reported that flight operations were significantly disrupted at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol due to an outage at the airport's aircraft fuel supply system. Several hundred flights were delayed or cancelled since July 24. No information as to when operations would normalize was available yet.
Italy	24-27-Jul	Strikes to affect road and air traffic: Media sources indicated on July 23 that the Italian trade unions Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti confirmed a nationwide transport strike planned for July 24, including the railway, public and freight transport, shipping and maritime sectors. Furthermore, an air transport strike is planned from 10 am to 2 pm local time on July 26.
United States	25-Jul	JFK Terminal One changes mail processing services: On July 25, the United States Postal Service (USPS) reports that JFK Terminal One at the John F. Kennedy International Airport will no longer provide mail processing services through the contracted ground handler DNATA. Each individual airline will have to deliver mail containers to the Post Office or the airline’s cargo facility from July 25 onwards.
Malta	26-Jul	IT issues affect postal services: On July 26, Malta Post indicated that it has been experiencing intermittent system issues that have been disrupting the transmission of EDI messages. No timeline as to when the situation will normalize was immediately provided.
Mexico	26-Jul	Landslide prompts highway closure: Media sources report on July 26 that a landslide has prompted a full closure of the highway connecting Xalapa and Veracruz in Veracruz State in Mexico. Significant road disruption has been reported in the area. It remains unclear as to when the situation will normalize.
Spain	26-Jul	Workers’ strike to affect highway traffic: Local media sources reported on July 3 that workers working on the Huerna highway in Spain called a 19-day strike during weekends and holidays starting on July 26. The highway between Asturias and Leon will be affected by work stoppages of more than 75 workers demanding better working conditions.
Spain	27-29-Jul	Ground staff plan to go on strike: Media sources are reporting that ground staff with Iberia plan to embark on a two-day strike at Bareclona El Prat Airport, Spain, on July 27. The labor action has been called due to an ongoing dispute with airport management about the current work overload. The anticipated impact from the strike has not been immediately specified.
Spain	28-29-Jul	Operations resume following disruption: On July 29, Correos indicated that its IT system was disrupted from July 28 to July 29 due to scheduled maintenance work. The system has been back to normal since 8 am local time on July 29.
India	28-Jul	Flooding affects road traffic: On July 29, media sources indicate that flooding following heavy rainfall has caused disruption across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Western Maharashtra, where several roads and highways have been flooded. Further disruptions are likely as additional heavy rainfall is forecasted throughout July 29.
Hong Kong	31-Jul	Tropical Storm Wipha disrupts postal services: The Hongkong Post indicated on July 31 that processing and delivery of all inward mail have been disrupted due to Tropical Storm Wipha which passed near Hong Kong on the afternoon of July 31 before making landfall in China. No information as to when the operations will normalize was immediately available.
Brazil	31-Jul	Postal workers to go on strike: On July 30, local media sources indicated that workers with labour union Federação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Empresas de Correios, Telégrafos e Similares (Fentect) will begin an indefinite strike from 10 pm local time on July 31 due to an ongoing conflict about a new labour agreement. The strike could disrupt postal services across the country.

Exempted countries

Country or region

Crimea (region)

Cuba

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Iran

Sudan

Syria

Countries with service disruption

Due to local circumstances, we currently cannot provide delivery services of mail and packets to the following countries or regions

Country	Region or city
Bougainville Island (Papua New Guinea)	Arawa Buin Kieta Panguna
Georgia	Abkhazia
South Sudan	Jonglei Unity Equatoria
Chad	Tibesti
Ukraine	Region Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts and Crimea Zip Code 83000-87000 & 91000-99000
Yemen