Package forwarders allowing to deliver lithium batteries andelectronics from USA to Russia

Now that USPS prohibits international delivery of lithium batteries and electronics with lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries, many customers from Russia will face problems delivering electronics. The problem is that courier services like DHL, Fedex, UPS are still facing problems with Russia customs, so they are hardly used by Russians for shipping from the USA to Russia. But luckily package forwarders (also known as mail forwarders, freight forwarders, parcel forwarders, shipping forwarders) started shipping packages from the USA to Europe in containers. And even when major American package forwarders fail to offer any decent shipping alternative for customers from Russia, other major package forwarders do ship electronics. And it is even cheaper than using USPS Priority Mail or USPS Express Mail International.

• Shipito is one of the largest package forwarders in the USA. Delivers packages with lithium batteries and electronics to Russia by Russian Post Standard, Shipito Airmail Priority and Airmail Express:
  
  
  
  • Russian Post Standard is recommended for heavy and small packages (like 26"x13"x13", 18-20 kg). Such packages are delivered by truck to New York and then are sent to Berlin by air. In Berlin they receive tracking numbers and are delivered by the Russian Post to Moscow by train. Then they are delivered to local post offices. Packages can be insured from loss and damages (3% from product value). Weight limit is 20kg. No size can be longer than 105cm and sum of all three sizes should not be more than 200cm. Max content value is $2,500.
  
  
  • Shipito Airmail Priority delivery is cheaper than USPS for light and small packages (1-6 lbs). Shipito Airmail Priority packages can be insured, but can not be tracked. Max content value is $1,000. In Russia packages are delivered by EMS Russian Post.
  
  
  • Shipito Airmail Express delivery costs about the same as USPS Express Mail. Shipito Airmail Express packages can be insured and tracked. Max content value is $1,000. In Russia packages are delivered by EMS Russian Post.


• Shopotam (ex. EbayToday) is one of the largest package forwarders with Russian roots. Delivers packages in containers from USA to Europe, then ships packages to Moscow. Then your package can be delivered either via EMS or via BoxBerry courier service. Boxberry is cheaper than EMS, but it accepts packages up to 15 kg only. All packages are insured. Standard insurance of 1% doesn't cover cell phones. Cell phone insurance - 5%.
  Coupon code for getting $5 onto your account (for new users only): 3fd2d2236ef081c56d1ff16f1588fa0f


• Shopfans is one of the largest shipping forwarders with Russian roots. Sends packages with lithium batteries in containers using Brokers Worldwide (BWW). You can't send more than 2 lithium batteries in one package. Cost of goods in one package can't exceed $1'000. BWW containers are delivered from the USA to Berlin. Packages are sent by Russian Post from Berlin (Russian Post has an office in Berlin). Packages can be insured ($3 for every $100). Packages are insured from non-delivery. Insurance doesn't cover lost, stolen or damaged items in the package.


• Polar Express is a shipping forwarder with Russian roots. Delivers packages from the USA to Russia in containers by air and by sea. Customs clearance is done in Kaliningrad, Russia. Customers can pick up their packages (in some cities) or get them by post or a supported Russian courier service. Packages are insured. And you can insure electronics like iPhone, iPad, Macbook Air. Fee for packages with lithium batteries is only $3. Very good packing of parcels. Shipping rates are very competitive. Cost of goods in a package is limited to $1000. The company has been growing very fast, so they experience problems replying to customers fast as well as some other problems.


• SPSR Express (SPSR USA) offers express delivery to Russian and xUSSR countries. In Russia packages are delivered by Russian courier service SPSR Express. The company offers the following types of delivery: express, economy and economy by sea. Lithium batteries are accepted. SPSR has 200+ branches in Russia and delivers to more than 2000 cities in Russia.
  
  
  
  • Shopotam (eBayToday) offers SPSR Express among other shipping methods.
  
  
  • Qwintry offers SPSR Express among other shipping methods. Delivery cost is identical to USPS Express Mail International.
  
  
  • Pochtoy delivers packages with lithium batteries by SPSR (Express, Econom, Sea).
  
  
  • NYCMSK delivers packages with lithium batteries by SPSR. Supports the following types of delivery: express, econonomy and economy by sea. Packages are insured automatically from loss and damage (covert up to $20 per kg). Additional insurance - 1.5% of the package content.

Besides the above mentioned package forwarders, you may use Meest-America which is very popular among Ukrainian customers. Meest delivers packages by sea and air freight. You may also use package forwarders that ship by Meest such as RusBid and BosMix. The latter companies are well known in the Ukraine, but there is no much feedback about them from customers from Russia.

Do you know any other package forwarders that allows to deliver lithium batteries and electronics with lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries to Russia? If you don't live in Russia, do you experience similar problems with your package forwarder?


Update (November 11, 2012)
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, USPS will start accepting specific quantities of lithium batteries - when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate - to be sent to many international destinations, including APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.

Update (November 06, 2013)
Shipito Airmail can no longer be used for shipping lithium batteries. But you may use alternative shipping methods offered by Shipito for that including USPS Priority, USPS Express, Russian Post, FedEx, DHL and TNT.