How Mastering Landed Costs & Delivering Duty Paid Can Transform Your eCommerce Success

Global eCommerce

Lead the next wave of global eCommerce growth, how mastering landed costs and delivering Duty Paid can transform your success

For years, the de minimis, or low-value, exemption has been the backbone of cross-border eCommerce, allowing millions of small parcels to enter the US and EU without incurring duties, taxes, or complex paperwork. Retailers structured their supply chains to take advantage of these thresholds. Now, regulatory tides have shifted dramatically:

  • US de minimis withdrawal: As of 29 August 2025, the US ends the $800 de minimis exemption for all commercial shipments. Every import, regardless of value, now faces standard duty rates, potential additional tariffs, and administrative charges.
  • EU customs reform: By 2028, the EU will eliminate its €150 duty exemption, bringing every import under customs scrutiny.

This means over 6 billion annual shipments, previously “duty-free”, now require complete customs entries and payment of duties, and will be subject to stricter compliance checks. Non-compliance or inaccuracy can result in penalties, shipment delays, and unhappy customers.

Why landed cost calculation is mission-critical, and the way to grow your business

With the disappearance of de minimis, every cross-border parcel must be declared, classified, and have duty and sales tax calculated at origin to ensure collection at the point of sale. Calculating landed cost is no longer optional, it is central to a seamless shopping experience:

  • Control costs, avoid surprises: Accurately calculating the full cost of delivery, including duties, sales taxes, admin fees, and shipping, eliminates customer shock, reduces abandoned carts, and prevents costly returns.
  • Maintain profit margins: Knowing your total delivered cost allows competitive pricing and stronger carrier negotiations for admin fees.
  • Compliance and risk reduction: Proper landed cost calculation ensures customs compliance, preventing fines and operational disruption.

Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), the gold standard for cross-border eCommerce

The most successful eCommerce companies are turning to DDP, where the seller manages all costs and customs requirements, delivering a frictionless, all-inclusive experience for buyers:

  • Transparent pricing: Customers see the total cost upfront, eliminating abandoned carts caused by unexpected charges at delivery.
  • Trust and loyalty: DDP builds brand loyalty by providing a reliable, hassle-free journey.
  • Operational efficiency: Handling customs in advance helps sellers and buyers avoid costs, delays, and complex returns.
  • Competitive advantage: Offer a superior cross-border experience versus outdated DDU or DAP models.

Why Hurricane Commerce is the partner of choice

Successfully navigating this new regulatory world requires innovative, data-driven technology and real-time compliance, precisely what Hurricane Commerce Ltd delivers:

Hurricane’s core advantages

  • Automated landed cost calculation: Real-time, accurate duty and sales tax calculations for transparent DDP checkout.
  • Seamless compliance: Automated tariff updates, correct product classification, and complete customs data that meet global standards.
  • Advanced AI screening: Proactive checks for prohibited and restricted goods, and denied parties, reducing compliance errors.
  • Scenario planning: Model regulatory or tariff changes before they hit, optimise routes, and avoid at-risk lanes.
  • Plug-and-play modular integration: Use duty/tax, compliance checks, denied party screening, or the full stack for faster onboarding and flexible scaling.

Results that speak volumes

  • Increased sales conversion: Retailers using Hurricane’s duty calculators have seen up to 32% more conversions on international orders.
  • Transparent landed costs: Minimise surprises, boost satisfaction.
  • Faster customs clearance: Lower rates of shipments held by customs.
  • Risk mitigation: Automated compliance reduces the risk of fines, seizures, and complaints.

Take control of your global success

The era of easy, duty-free cross-border eCommerce is over. Companies that act now, leveraging landed cost calculation, DDP shipping, and a proven compliance partner like Hurricane Commerce, will not just survive, they will lead the next wave of global eCommerce growth.

Prepare, pivot, and win with Hurricane Commerce, your trusted partner for compliant, profitable cross-border commerce in a world without de minimis.


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David SpoTtiswood
Co-founder

Interesting Fact: I am an amateur baker, but I still have no idea how sourduogh starter actually works, and am intrigued how it all reacts together to produce an incredible taste.

Favourite Music: November Rain by Guns ‘n’ Roses.  Going to Wembley with my wife our go to fun thing in our early years, our youth with long hair and rock clothing and not a care in the world other than getting the best spot in the house.

Favourite Quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results ” – Albert Einstein

Harry Reilly
Non-exec

Interesting Fact:  I learned Arabic for five years!.

Favourite Music:  A Long December by Counting Crows.  Memory of best family time together in California.

Favourite Quote: “Don’t forget execution, boys. It’s the all-important last 95%”

Tom Lee

Technical Director

Interesting Fact:  I am completely self-taught from a technical skills persepctiuve, and left formal education at 18.

Favourite Music:  Blink 182 – Aliens Exist.  Brings back fond memories of stickly floors and cheap beer.

Favourite Quote: “He sprayed water in my face – thta’s not allowed” – James Haskell.  The whole event surrounding it is hilarious and shows the power of a good wind up

Martin Palmer
Co-Founder

Interesting Fact: I started my working life training to be an accountant but decided I hated numbers. (Ironically I now love them!). I really wanted to join the Hong Kong Police force but couldn’t do that until i was 24. I took a temporary job in Imports and 47 years later here I am.

Favourite Music: There only was one choice. Harry Chapin. Meant a lot to me in my early years as an import broker. We played Chapin for hours and this one seemed to cover so many modes.

Favourite Quote: “No man is an island”

Neil Harmer

Operations Director

Interesting Fact:  As a Geologist my idea of the perfect beach holiday is going to the beach and investigating the rocks in the cliffs behind.

Favourite Music:  Broken Stones – Paul Weller, I’m a huge Paul Weller / The Jam fan; Broken Stones is a very relaxing song, I love the use of the electric piano in it

Favourite Quote: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. This is a great quote by Benjamin Franklin, to have in your head when working through a series of tasks to help keep focused.

Robert Dundas
Sales Director

Interesting Fact:  One of my life goals is to be able to speak French, I’ve been doing Duolingo every day for the last five years, and I’m still rubbish! 

Favourite Music: Where do I even start! Tom Petty Running Down a Dream, this is my top-down driving next to the ocean song

Favourite Quote: “This time will pass”

ASHLEY DEXTER
CFO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: I was nearly named Battle Dexter (I would have probably now been residing in one of His Majesty’s establishments)

Favourite Music: Even though I spent a few years in the music industry my taste of music was always a cause for concern with my colleagues, so to surprise them all my current favourite is Kids by MGMT (absolute belter)

Favourite Quote: “Quitters never win and winners never quit”

Ian Venner
CTO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: Runs Red Lantern Records, a not-for-profit, ethical label as a side project, whose artists have regular national BBC radio airplay.

Favourite Music: Tom Waits, pretty much all of his work.  Beautifully observed avante-garde vignettes of life.  Oh, and anything really loud!

Favourite Quote: “It’s not the mountains we climb, but the grit in our shoe that grinds us down” – which sums up taking a business from start-up to enterprise.

Martyn Noble
CEO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: Played a high standard of semi-professional rugby union (too many years ago now!)

Favourite Music: Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven…my first live gig – Knebworth 11th August 1979, the track never grows old and is the iconic song of ‘hope’ whatever mood you are in when listening too it…and I’m still trying to work out what the lyrics mean!!

Favourite Quote: “Know your customers, Know your People, Know your Numbers” – plagiarised from Sir John Harvey Jones when I met him very early on in my career and values I stick to in my business life.