AliExpress tracking

Parcel transport and logistics for online commerce

AliExpress offers several delivery options to adapt to the needs of buyers and the urgency of the order. Each shipping method has its own characteristics in terms of speed, cost, and tracking. The choice of option, the seller's location, the final destination, as well as various contingencies such as customs clearance or seasonal activity peaks, strongly influence the transport time. Being a marketplace connecting sellers from around the world to buyers, AliExpress does not have its own international delivery fleet; it is the sellers who ship orders via the carriers offered on the platform. Therefore, delivery times may vary from one seller to another, even for similar destinations.

• Standard delivery: The most common and often the most economical method, standard delivery is generally offered by default on AliExpress. It involves a longer transit time, which can extend over several weeks depending on the distance traveled and the transit stages. This shipping mode often involves several successive carriers (for example, the postal service of the country of origin and then that of the destination country) before final delivery to the recipient. Basic tracking is generally available, but updates may be less frequent than for express shipments.
• Expedited delivery: This paid option offers faster transport than standard. The package is handled end-to-end by international express courier services such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS, ensuring a reduced delivery time of a few business days or at most a few weeks, depending on the destination. In return for a higher cost, the buyer benefits from detailed tracking and much shorter and more reliable delivery times compared to the standard method.
• AliExpress premium delivery: AliExpress also offers its own premium delivery service, aiming to optimize shipments for faster and more reliable delivery. Although it is the most expensive option, it often allows receiving the order within about one to two weeks thanks to priority logistics circuits. Premium delivery involves different carriers depending on the regions, favoring partners offering the best delivery speed and complete parcel tracking.

AliExpress partner carriers

To ensure reliable international parcel delivery, AliExpress relies on an extensive network of carriers and logistics partners. The choice of carrier for an order depends on several factors, including the country of shipment, the final destination, the selected delivery method, and the weight of the package. Here are some carriers commonly involved in AliExpress shipments:

• China Post: The national postal service of China is widely used by AliExpress sellers to ship parcels worldwide, particularly via economical shipments. China Post offers standard options (international postal mail) as well as faster services such as the EMS service for many countries. Tracking numbers issued by China Post generally follow the international postal tracking format, combining two initial letters, nine digits, then two letters indicating the country of origin (for example, a tracking RR123456789CN ).
• AliExpress Standard Shipping: This is the standard shipping method offered by AliExpress, operated via the Cainiao logistics platform (a subsidiary of the Alibaba group). This service acts as an intermediary and collaborates with various carriers depending on the regions, including national postal operators such as Singapore Post, Correos, or Posti Finland. An AliExpress Standard Shipping tracking number typically starts with one or two letters (often LP, LX, or LM) followed by a series of numbers.
• ePacket: ePacket is a shipping option designed for small parcels, resulting from a collaboration between China Post and the postal services of certain recipient countries (initially the United States, then extended to other countries). This transport mode offers a good compromise between speed and cost for low-weight shipments. ePacket tracking numbers generally take the form of alphanumeric codes ending with the country of origin code, for example LK123456789CN .
• DHL: DHL is a major player in international express courier services. On AliExpress, DHL is offered for expedited shipments requiring very fast delivery and a high level of reliability. Parcels shipped by DHL have a tracking number often consisting of a series of numbers, typically a 10 or 11-digit code, possibly preceded by letters depending on the service used.
• FedEx: FedEx is another global express carrier frequently chosen for high-end AliExpress deliveries. This company ensures short delivery times to many destinations. FedEx tracking numbers are generally purely numeric, or sometimes composed of a combination of letters and numbers for certain international shipments.
• UPS: UPS, known for its global logistics network, is sometimes used for AliExpress order shipments, particularly to North America or Europe. UPS tracking is presented in the form of an alphanumeric code starting with a few letters followed by numbers. For example, many UPS Express shipments begin with the code 1Z followed by a series of characters.

Depending on the destination country and the chosen service, other carriers may be involved during the journey, including local partners for the last delivery stage. The availability of these carriers and the exact format of tracking numbers may vary depending on the seller and the country of origin. In any case, AliExpress provides the buyer with a tracking number as soon as the seller has handed over the package to the carrier, allowing online tracking of the shipment.

AliExpress order logistics process

An AliExpress order goes through several logistical steps before reaching the buyer. This delivery process involves the seller, sorting centers, international carriers, and local postal services. Here are the main phases of an AliExpress parcel's journey from order validation to final delivery:

• Order validation and preparation by the seller: Once the order is placed on AliExpress, the seller must confirm it, prepare the product, and package it for shipment. Depending on the sellers, this processing step may take a few days. When the package is ready, the seller generates a shipping label and obtains a tracking number from the selected carrier.
• Handling by the origin carrier: The package is handed over to the initial carrier in the country of origin. This may be the national postal service or a local logistics partner mandated by AliExpress. The package is registered in postal systems and goes through an origin sorting center. It is at this stage that the first tracking information appears, indicating that the package has been taken over and is being shipped from the country of shipment.
• International transport and transit: Once out of the logistics centers of the country of origin, the package is transported to the destination country via international transport, usually by cargo plane. Depending on the shipping method, the package may transit through regional consolidation sorting centers. For example, Cainiao may group several parcels destined for the same region in a common flight or container. During this phase, tracking often indicates statuses such as departure from the international sorting center or flight to the destination country.
• Arrival in the destination country and customs: Upon entering the destination country, the shipment goes through customs control. Customs authorities may inspect the package and determine any applicable customs duties or taxes based on the declared value and content. This customs clearance process can add a variable delay to transit, from a few hours to several days or more in case of high traffic or thorough inspection. Once cleared, the package is released for internal delivery.
• Local sorting and final delivery: After customs, the package is handed over to the postal network or a local carrier in the destination country for the rest of the journey. It transits through a local sorting center or a regional distribution platform, then is directed to the distribution office closest to the recipient's address. Tracking updates inform of the package's arrival in the destination locality and its release for delivery.
• Distribution and delivery to the recipient: Finally, the package is handled by a delivery person (postal worker or courier) for the "last mile" phase. The delivery person makes the delivery to the indicated address. In case of the recipient's absence, the package may be left at a pickup point or post office, or a delivery notice may be left. Once the delivery is made, the tracking status is updated accordingly (package delivered).

Shipping models and distribution network

While the majority of AliExpress orders are shipped directly from China to the final customer, the platform has diversified its logistics models to gain speed and efficiency. Some sellers have stocks in warehouses abroad, for example in Europe or North America, allowing them to ship from a country closer to the buyer. This local shipment offers significantly reduced delivery times and avoids customs clearance for the customer. Delivery is then handled by a local carrier from the same economic area, whether it is the national postal service or a private courier company in the buyer's country.

In parallel, AliExpress and its logistics branch Cainiao have set up international distribution centers and transit sorting centers in different regions of the world. These facilities serve to consolidate and redirect parcels more efficiently. For example, shipments to Europe may transit through a central sorting center on the continent, where they are then distributed to different countries via appropriate local carriers. This system allows for mutualizing part of the journey and optimizing costs as well as shipping times.

AliExpress also offers a combined delivery service for certain multiple orders. If a buyer orders several products shipped by the same logistics platform within a short time frame, these items may be consolidated into a single package for international transport. This grouped shipment reduces the number of packages to be shipped separately and facilitates customs clearance by requiring only one declaration for all items, while reducing overall shipping costs. The order tracking will then clearly indicate that this consolidation has taken place before the final shipment to the recipient.

Shipment tracking and tracking numbers

Parcel tracking is an essential aspect of AliExpress logistics, allowing buyers to know the progress of their delivery in near real-time. As soon as a seller ships an order, a tracking number is provided to the buyer. This number can be used on the AliExpress platform (My Orders section) to check shipment updates, or directly on the website of the concerned carrier.

AliExpress shipment tracking numbers can take various formats. Many international parcels are assigned a tracking number that complies with universal postal standards, starting with two letters, followed by a series of numbers, and ending with the country of origin code (for example CN for China, SG for Singapore, HK for Hong Kong, etc.). Other formats exist for private carriers or internal mail shipments: for example, some tracking numbers are purely numeric, while others combine letters and numbers in a specific order. The format depends on the carrier and the service used.

It should be noted that in some cases, a package may change its tracking number en route. This occurs when a new carrier takes over the shipment, usually upon its entry into the destination country. For example, a package shipped from China with a China Post tracking may be assigned a new national tracking number once taken over by the postal service of the recipient country. The AliExpress platform generally updates the tracking to reflect this change, or indicates the new local tracking number in the order details.

On the interface side, AliExpress tracking details the different stages the package has gone through in the form of chronological statuses. Each important event (handling, departure from the logistics center, arrival in a country, customs clearance, delivery setup, etc.) generates an update visible to the buyer. These tracking statuses allow knowing if the package is "shipped", "in transit", "arrived in the destination country", "out for delivery", or "delivered", among others. The exact labels may vary slightly depending on the carriers, but AliExpress provides a translation or understandable description of each step in the order tracking. The buyer is thus constantly informed of the package's journey until receipt.

Customs and import formalities

AliExpress parcels being mostly shipped from abroad (notably from China), they are subject to the same customs rules as any postal shipment between two economic zones. Upon arrival in the destination country, the package goes through the customs service, which may inspect its content and verify the compliance of documents (value declaration, product description, possible invoices). Depending on the declared value and local regulations, customs duties or import taxes (such as VAT) may be applied.

In practice, most small low-value parcels transit quickly without additional fees, especially when they are below taxation thresholds or when the platform has already collected VAT at the time of purchase. AliExpress indeed complies with the customs requirements of different countries: for example, for shipments to the European Union, VAT is generally collected at the time of payment on AliExpress to simplify customs clearance upon arrival. However, for higher-value shipments, it is possible that the carrier or local postal service asks the recipient to pay customs duties and taxes before final delivery. In this case, the package is often held pending payment, and a notice is sent to the buyer (by mail, email, or SMS) inviting them to settle the amounts due so that delivery can resume.

Customs clearance times vary by country and period. They can be very short when formalities are automated, or lengthen during high traffic periods (for example around the end-of-year holidays or Chinese New Year) or if thorough checks are carried out. AliExpress recommends buyers to track the progress of the package using the tracking number and to promptly provide any additional documents or information that may be required by customs authorities or the carrier. Overall, although customs clearance is an external step to AliExpress's control, the majority of shipments proceed smoothly, and parcels resume their journey to the recipient after this mandatory formality.

Local distribution and final delivery

The last stage of an AliExpress parcel's journey always takes place via a local carrier in the destination country. For standard or economical shipments, it is most often the national postal service of the country. For example, a package shipped to France will be handled by La Poste (or its parcel branch Colissimo) for final distribution, while in Canada it will be Canada Post, and so on. These operators treat the package as a regular postal shipment once it is handed over to them, and deliver it to the recipient according to their usual procedures (postal worker's round, mailbox delivery, or hand delivery against signature, etc.). The AliExpress online tracking continues to reflect these final stages, often relying on scans and updates provided by the local carrier's system.

For expedited shipments via international express carriers, the same carrier may manage the shipment from start to finish until final delivery. For example, a package shipped by DHL, FedEx, or UPS from abroad will generally be delivered by the local subsidiary of these same companies (DHL Express, FedEx, or UPS local) to the recipient's home. In these cases, delivery is carried out according to the private carrier's protocol, which may require a signature upon receipt or offer delivery rescheduling options in case of absence. Again, the tracking status indicated on AliExpress will change to "Delivered" once the package has been handed over to the recipient.

In case of difficulty during the final phase (incomplete address, recipient absent, etc.), the local carrier usually leaves a delivery notice or contacts the buyer. AliExpress then advises to communicate directly with the local carrier to resolve the issue (reschedule a delivery, pick up the package at the depot or post office, provide additional information, etc.), as once the package is in the local circuit, the final carrier's procedures apply. With the provided tracking number, the buyer can find the final carrier's contact details and use the tracking references on their site if necessary, although most information is already relayed in the AliExpress tracking.

AliExpress tracking statuses and their meaning