Best shipping service from Ukraine to China: an honest comparison of DHL, UPS and FedEx

Shipping to China is one of the most complex routes in international logistics. A combination of strict customs controls, language barriers, regional restrictions, and long distances forces a different perspective when choosing a courier service. The logic of “cheapest means best” doesn’t work here. On the contrary, a single incorrectly filled invoice or a passive customs broker can delay a parcel for a week or even return it to the sender.

Customers from Ukraine most often choose between three international giants: DHL, UPS, and FedEx. All promise speed, reliability, and convenience. But how do these promises hold up in practice? We researched hundreds of reviews on Reddit, Trustpilot, and forums to provide an honest and practical comparison of the three delivery services on the Ukraine–China route.

Company overview: DHL, UPS, and FedEx – Global Players with different focus

• DHL — a German company focused on international express delivery. It has a strong air network in Europe and Asia, over 600,000 employees, and a reputation as a fast and reliable carrier for long-distance routes.
• UPS — an American carrier with a very strong position in North America. Known for its high accuracy, attention to large and heavy shipments, and stable ground network. It processes over 22 million shipments daily.
• FedEx — one of the world leaders in express delivery, with particular expertise in air transport and fast “next day” delivery in the USA. On the international route, the company actively partners with local carriers, allowing it to adapt the service to each country’s specifics. This approach ensures flexibility and efficiency in customs clearance and logistics.

At first glance, all three seem similar. But in practice, the difference is noticeable.

Delivery Speed: Promises vs Reality

DHL positions itself as a company that focuses on speed. And according to reviews, this is not just advertising. On Reddit, many users from Shanghai and Guangzhou praise DHL for real delivery in “3-5 days” from Europe or the USA. One user writes:

“DHL works best. They deliver to the door, no problems. All parcels from abroad came on time.” – [Reddit]

The reason is that DHL has its own hubs in Asia and also handles the “last mile” in China through its subsidiary, DHL China — without involving third-party carriers.

UPS also provides fast delivery, although, according to users, sometimes a little slower than DHL. For example, one customer notes:

“DHL comes in 4-5 days. UPS — usually a day later. But UPS always sticks to the promised delivery times, even if they are longer.” – [Reddit]

Such stability is especially important for businesses, where missing deadlines means losing profits.

FedEx, while advertising fast delivery (3-5 days), can experience delays in practice. Dozens of users complain about customs delays, tracking issues, or situations where “express” deliveries take 7-10 days.

“DHL is always fast and reliable, while UPS/FedEx regularly delay or lose parcels.” – [Reddit]

Customs Clearance: Who Helps Pass Through, and Who Creates Difficulties

Customs clearance in China has its specifics, so the competence of the carrier as a customs broker is critical.

UPS ranks first in reviews regarding customs support. The company has its own customs brokers and practices pre-electronic declaration. This allows customs clearance to begin even before the parcel arrives in China.

“UPS is the most reliable. It has the best customs clearance. You pay a little more, but you don’t stress.” – [Reddit]

DHL also has a reputation as an expert in international logistics. Thanks to strong positions in Asia, the company efficiently handles goods through Chinese customs, especially when it comes to personal items.

“When delivering to China, DHL usually solves customs issues on its own… no problems with personal items.” – [Reddit]

FedEx has the most controversial reputation in this aspect. It should be understood that FedEx is a global player that successfully handles thousands of shipments daily and, of course, knows how to clear customs. However, according to reviews, the risk of delays at customs is higher with FedEx compared to its competitors. Users often complain about situations where the company shifted the responsibility for delays to customs, even though the problem was within its internal processes or untimely submission of documents.

“FedEx doesn’t do its job and shifts the responsibility to customs.” – [Reddit]

Reliability: Security, Tracking, Responsibility

International shipping is not just about time and customs but also the risks of loss or damage to the shipment. This is why we focused on two key criteria:

• Service stability (tracking, delivery accuracy);
• Problem-solving ability (compensations, support).

For the Ukraine–China route, DHL has a key advantage: the company fully controls the route, including the “last mile” in China through its subsidiary, DHL China. This helps avoid problems with handovers between contractors. As DHL employees note on forums:

“We do not involve third-party carriers on international routes, fewer handovers — fewer chances for your item to be lost.”
— [Reddit]

DHL also has fewer transit warehouses compared to its competitors, so the chances of loss or processing errors are lower.

UPS has a reputation as a reliable partner, especially among business clients. It is often recommended for shipping expensive items due to the ability for high insurance and timely responses to inquiries. However, the statistics don’t always favor it. A European forwarder, who regularly uses all three services, reported a loss of 6-8% of shipments with UPS. Parcels often “disappear” during transit:

“The parcel stops scanning — and that’s it, nobody knows anything. It gets listed as a loss with compensation, but it’s still unpleasant.” — [Reddit]

The cause may be large volumes, human error, and poor labeling quality. Discussions mention that UPS sometimes shifts the blame to the sender or customs — even when the problem is on their side. However, for the Ukraine–China route, there are no significant complaints about UPS in public sources.

FedEx generates the most controversial reviews among all three services. Customers often mention delays, difficulties with updating shipment status, or cases where a parcel was marked as “delivered” even though it hadn’t arrived. However, in contrast, some users note that FedEx and DHL are less prone to losses than UPS — from their experience, more problems were specifically with UPS.

“FedEx marked the parcel as delivered, but nothing arrived. Support couldn’t help.” — [Trustpilot.com]

It’s important to understand: this rating is based on global experience, and most complaints relate to domestic shipments within the USA (specifically FedEx Ground, which is handled by independent contractors). This is a completely different service than FedEx International, which handles international shipments to China.
On the Ukraine–China route, delivery is handled by FedEx China’s regular couriers, and the service quality is much more stable. Many shipments go smoothly, and the risks of loss or status errors are not higher than the market average.

GlobalPost: Your Personal Guide in the World of International Shipping

GlobalPost provides comprehensive logistics services for organizing shipments from Ukraine to China. We act as a single center for solving all tasks related to international shipping, including customs clearance, cost optimization, and preparing accompanying documents. Collaborating with leading global carriers such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx allows us to offer our clients optimal solutions for rates and delivery times. Our services include:

• Expert carrier selection. We analyze the nature of your cargo, deadlines, and budget to recommend the service that will handle the task most efficiently.
• Access to corporate rates. Thanks to long-term partnerships with carriers, our clients get access to special prices that are much more advantageous than standard rates.
• Professional document preparation. Our specialists take responsibility for correctly filling out customs declarations and invoices, ensuring quick and hassle-free customs clearance in China.

We offer solutions for both businesses entering the Chinese market and private individuals sending personal items or gifts. Our goal is to make the complex process of international shipping simple, transparent, and manageable for every client.

Need a consultation or a shipping cost calculation for China? Contact us, and we will offer the best solution for your task!

How to Choose the Best Service: Our Recommendations

• For personal items and small parcels DHL is often the best choice — fast, convenient, and straightforward. If maximum reliability is important, consider UPS.
• For heavy and large cargo UPS is considered the leader — it handles large boxes better and offers flexible terms and clear rates.
• For businesses and regular commercial shipments DHL, UPS, and FedEx all perform well on the route to China.
• For large corporate clients with complex logistics and volumes FedEx may be the best solution — it offers personalized service, flexible terms, and a powerful global network, especially in the US and Asia markets.

Conclusion

On the route to China, DHL most often receives positive reviews for its speed, convenience, and well-established customs processes. UPS is slightly slower but stands out for its stability, accurate tracking, and is well-suited for heavy or valuable shipments. FedEx has a broad presence in the international market and has proven itself as a reliable partner for deliveries. In many cases, the service ensures stable operations, especially when the documents are correctly processed. The service quality may vary depending on the region and type of shipment, but with the right approach, clients receive a high level of service.

To avoid unnecessary costs and unexpected delays, it’s advisable to work with an experienced logistics partner who will account for all nuances and help choose the best solution for your task. At GlobalPost, we support the entire delivery process to China — from choosing the carrier to customs clearance and delivery — and always explain how to avoid typical mistakes.