Prohibited and restricted items for shipping to the USA
Updated Oct 1, 2026 · prices pulled live from the UCargo price list
Sending a prohibited item by mistake can get the whole parcel held or destroyed by US customs. UCargo keeps the list below up to date with the current rules for the USA route.
Not accepted for the USA
- Not accepted: gas cylinders and devices containing them, raw agarwood (agarwood incense and powder are accepted, with a surcharge), drugs, weapons, explosives.
- The USA does not accept: CITES-listed goods (rare wild animals and plants and products made from them), compressed aerosol sprays, power banks (only small batteries built into devices), food with less than 2 months to expiry or fresh produce.
- Oversized shipments not accepted: over 68kg (actual or volumetric weight ÷ 5000), longest side over 273cm or girth over 418cm; no delivery to Hawaii or Alaska.
Items that need a separate service (custom quote)
- Express Air does not accept branded/replica goods or food containing meat, eggs, dairy, bird's nest or seeds — these go through the restricted-goods service, quoted separately by our team.
- Bird's nest: up to 2kg per order, packed in silver zip bags.
To send any of these, message UCargo first so our team can check them and give you a quote.
Items with a surcharge
| Goods group | Air | Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Food, supplements, cosmetics | 50,000₫/kg | 30,000₫/kg |
| Branded & replica goods | 30,000₫/kg | 30,000₫/kg |
| Batteries, electronics | 0–5kg: 300,000₫/parcel; 5–22kg: 500,000₫/parcel; over 22kg: 700,000₫/parcel | 5,000₫/kg |
| Bird's nest, sea worms, saffron | 350,000₫/kg | no surcharge |
| Medicine | 30,000₫/kg | 30,000₫/kg |
| Liquids, perfume, nail polish | 0–5kg: 300,000₫/parcel; 5–22kg: 500,000₫/parcel; over 22kg: 700,000₫/parcel | 30,000₫/kg |
Not sure about your item?
Send a photo of your item to the UCargo assistant in the chat — it will tell you whether it can be sent, which surcharge group it falls in, and an estimated price.
Need a quote for your goods?
Tell the UCargo assistant what you're sending and the weight — get an estimate in seconds, with pickup at your door in HCMC.
Shipping rates to the USA ›Frequently asked questions
Can I send a power bank to the USA?
No. Only small batteries built into a device (phone, laptop) are accepted.
Can I send agarwood incense to the USA?
Agarwood incense sticks and agarwood powder are accepted (with a surcharge); raw agarwood pieces are not.
Can I send seeds to the USA?
Seeds cannot go by Express Air; our team checks them and quotes the restricted-goods service if they are allowed.