Malawi is a landlocked country in south-east Africa. It is one of the most densely populated nations on the continent, with more than 16 million inhabitants despite its small size.
Bordering with Zambia to the north-west, Tanzania to the north-east, and with Mozambique on its east, south, and west; Malawi was formerly known as Nyasaland. The east of the country is marked by Lake Malawi, which separates the country from Tanzania and Mozambique.
Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi and home to an international airport through which is where most international parcel delivery to Malawi takes place. Smaller population centres include the cities of Blantyre and Mzuzu.
One of the least well-developed nations on the planet, Malawi is heavily dependent on international aid to meet the needs of its growing population. The level of need, and consequently the amount of international aid on offer, has decreased in the last few years.
A former British colony which achieved independence in the 1960s, Malawi remains a member of the Commonwealth and has long been seen as a haven of political and social stability within the often fractious African continent. It has become a safe haven for refugees, contributing to its large population, although this has led to the country receiving international support from other states, as well as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Union, African Development Bank, and the United Nations.
The economy of Malawi is heavily dependent on agriculture, with over 80% of the population engaged in subsistence farming. Agriculture, specifically tobacco, also accounts for the great majority of the country’s exports and international income.
The export of large quantities of tobacco, along with the fact that Malawi – not producing any itself – imports all of its petroleum products from overseas, means that the country has a well-developed system for bulk shipping by land to ports in neighbouring countries. As a result, cheap parcel delivery to Malawi is easier to find than ever.
Parcel Delivery To Malawi
A cheap courier to Malawi from the UK can take as little as 3-5 days when you are sending a parcel to an urban area; though this can increase depending on customs and border checks. Within urban areas, parcel delivery is largely as you would expect in any major city, with regular deliveries taking place by cheap courier services to Malawi.
Outside of the relatively developed, urban localities, cheap shipping to Malawi can take significantly longer. Transport times depend on the often parlous state of local infrastructure, weather conditions, and the availability of reliable and experienced local couriers.
As with any African country, you would be well advised to prioritise finding the services of an experienced, reliable delivery agent over simply finding a cheap courier to Malawi.
Delivery Prices To Send A Parcel To Malawi
Relatively cheap courier services to Malawi are available from approximately £30 for a small parcel, with the cost increasing depending on the weight and size of the package you are looking to send.
As a cheap shipping to Malawi service, economy parcel delivery to Malawi generally aims to have your parcel delivered within 10 days of shipping, although, as already mentioned, you should be conscious that this is an aim rather than a guarantee, as local factors too often affect cheap parcel delivery to Malawi schedules.
Professional special delivery couriers DHL, who have much-vaunted expertise in Africa, do offer a faster service which aims for delivery within 3-4 days of shipping. However, this premium service also attracts a premium price for parcel delivery to Malawi from UK, beginning at roughly £65.00.
Within urban areas, additional services may be available from your parcel delivery to Malawi company such as tracking, signature confirmation on delivery, and additional insurance – all for a small extra fee where you are looking for additional peace of mind. However, you should also remember that these services are unlikely to be available to all destinations within Malawi and, due to the lack of infrastructure, may not be 100% reliable, especially when opting for cheap delivery to Malawi.
Whatever you decide, you can rest assured that by using our quote comparison engine at Parcel Delivery, you will always be able to fin cheap delivery to Malawi for the service options you choose, while still being able to put your trust in the speedy and efficient services of a reliable and established delivery company who will oversee parcel delivery to Malawi from UK.
Useful Information When Sending A Parcel To Malawi
As with all countries, Malawi has some restrictions on what items it will allow to pass through its customs and border security checks into the country from overseas. In addition to the standard items which are prohibited from being sent through the international postal system, Malawi has some more unusual restrictions, including one on ‘personal effects’ as well as x-rays, toiletries, money orders and any form of cheque, artwork, and watches.
You may also find that other items you wish to send via parcel delivery UK to Malawi require the payment of taxes or duties as there are also significant customs tariffs in place.
As the country is not part of any customs union with the UK, and is not likely to be so even once the UK has departed from the European Union, all parcels to Malawi must carry a fully completed customs declaration in the form of either a CN22 or CN23 label affixed to the outside of the package. This must list full and comprehensive details of all of the items contained within your parcel, as well as itemising their values and providing a total value. Taking the time to ensure that your parcel carries one of these correctly completed customs forms can help prevent your recipient being charged excess tax and duty. It may also prevent customs and border officials having to open, and potentially damage, your parcel to determine its contents.
The Malawi postal system does not use postcodes, so it is extremely important that you include a full and detailed address in a prominent position on the outside of your parcel to give it the best chance of reaching the intended destination. You should also include your own name and address in the UK when you send a parcel to Malawi, as well as a contact telephone number both in Malawi and the UK in case any problems with delivery occur en route.
Finally, when deciding what to send in your Malawi parcel delivery, and how to package it, you should bear in mind the current international security situation which has led to increased scrutiny of all goods travelling across international borders and especially those travelling to or via Africa, including parcel delivery UK to Malawi. Any parcel containing liquids, gels, loose wires, or batteries is very likely to receive additional scrutiny and so providing extra labelling and paperwork for these items – as well as a 24-hour contact telephone number – is very important when you send a parcel to Malawi. Your chosen company for Malawi parcel delivery will be able to offer you specialist advice on sending any sensitive, fragile or valuable materials in your Malawi parcel delivery. If you require more detailed advice on what is permitted to be sent, or on security regulations, you can contact Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, or the Department of Transport.
