What Does “Shipment Processed in Parcel Center” Mean for DHL Delivery?

Have you ordered a package from Germany only to be left wondering what it means when your DHL tracking shows “the shipment has been processed in the parcel center”? This ambiguous status can be confusing if you don’t know what a parcel center is or what processing entails before a package gets dispatched for international shipping.

So what does it actually mean if your Deutsche Post or DHL Express tracking says your shipment was processed in the parcel center, and should you be concerned if it sits at this status for multiple days?

In short, this status indicates your package has been received at the origin country’s export facility where it is prepared for customs clearance before being transported internationally to its destination. Delays of a few days are common depending on flight availability, volumes, and other logistics. Read on for a detailed guide on parcel center processing, what timelines you can expect, and next steps for tracking your shipment’s journey.

This article will cover:

• What is a parcel center and what happens there
• What a “processed in parcel center” tracking status means
• Reasons your DHL shipment might be stalled at this stage
• Typical timelines before the package leaves the origin
• Further tracking after dispatch from the export center
• What to do if your Deutsche Post tracking is stuck
• How DHL Express shipping and tracking works
• Other statuses you might see during international transit
• How long until your package arrives from Germany

What is a Parcel Center and What Happens There?

A parcel center is a mail processing facility where packages from various origins are sorted by destination and prepared for onward transport. There are a few different types:

• Domestic centers handle packages moving within the same country
• Export centers prepare international shipments to leave the origin country
• Import centers receive packages arriving from other countries
• Transit centers act as mail hubs for packages transiting through a country

The “parcel center of origin” referenced in DHL tracking is the export facility where your shipment was first received after collection from the sender. This is likely located in Germany for items shipped with Deutsche Post or DHL from sellers in that country.

At this export parcel center:

• Packages are scanned and entered into tracking systems
• Shipments are sorted by destination country and city
• Customs paperwork is prepared for crossing borders
• Packages are consolidated and loaded for exporting

So a status about processing at this facility means your package has been received by the carrier and is being prepared to leave Germany on its trip towards your delivery address.

What Does “Processed in the Parcel Center” Status Mean?

If your DHL or Deutsche Post tracking updates to show:

“The international shipment has been processed in the parcel center“

Or:

“Processed in the export parcel“

It means your package has been received at the origin export facility, scanned, sorted for its destination, and made ready to be transported internationally.

This processing at the parcel center is an important first step and milestone that must happen before a package leaves the origin country. So it signals your shipment is on its way! However, it does not necessarily mean your parcel has yet left Germany if shipping with DHL from there.

Typically packages may sit at this processed status for up to a few days before being loaded for international dispatch depending on logistics. So continue monitoring tracking, but don’t worry too much if you don’t see immediate further updates. Some delay is expected.

Why Might My Shipment Stay at the Parcel Center for Days?

There are a number of logistical factors that can result in your DHL package sitting at the “processed in the parcel center” stage for multiple days before moving on:

• Awaiting Dispatch Logistics: Shipments need flights or trucks to transport them. If there’s a backlog of packages waiting to leave the export facility, yours may simply be queued until sufficient transport is available.
• Customs Delays: Before export, shipments must clear customs inspections. This can add a few days depending on volumes and specific regulations.
• Adverse Weather: Storms or other extreme weather than delay transport options can result in shipments missing flights and waiting days for the next available one.
• Holidays: National holidays in Germany may close parcel processing facilities for a day or longer, putting shipments on hold during that time.
• Missed Scans: Sometimes a package gets loaded and dispatched without a proper scan. So tracking systems still show the parcel center processing status even though it’s left. This is quite common with air freight shipment methods.

So unless informed otherwise, a few days delayed at the export parcel center is expected. But if it stretches past 5 days without change, contacting DHL may be wise to investigate further.

What’s the Typical Timeline for My Package Leaving the Center?

Most DHL shipments should see their status progress beyond just “processed at the parcel center” within 2-4 days. Here is a general timeline:

• Same Day: For shipments using time-critical services like DHL Express, the package may rapidly move through processing and leave on a flight the same working day.
• Next 1-3 Days: Slower economy services like DHL eCommerce can take a couple days before dispatched, depending on logistics availability.
• 2-4 Days: On average most shipments leave the export center within 2-4 business days from initially being processed.
• 10 Days: Any longer than this signals a likely delay from backlogs, weather, customs, or missed scans. Contact DHL if no updates after 10 days.

Once your package does leave the export center, DHL tracking should show additional statuses like “Shipment on its way” signifying it has been dispatched internationally. So you know to keep monitoring for those alerts.

How Can I Track My Shipment After It Leaves the Origin Center?

Once your DHL package is loaded for transit at the export parcel center in Germany, the Deutsche Post tracking should begin updating again as the shipment journeys towards its destination.

You can continue monitoring the status via the DHL website or app. Or use multi-carrier tracking sites like ParcelsApp or AfterShip if you want to check order updates in one dashboard.

Some common next statuses you may see include:

• Shipment on its way
• Arrived in destination country
• Import customs clearance
• Out for delivery

This helps narrow in on more precisely where your package is along its route and when it might arrive.

Be sure to keep checking tracking all the way until final verified delivery. International shipments can sometimes encounter issues or delays at borders, airports, and importing parcel centers too. So ongoing visibility provides peace of mind.

What If My Deutsche Post Tracking Is Stuck on This Update?

If your DHL or Deutsche Post tracking has shown “Processed at the parcel center of origin” for 5 days or longer without any new updates, don’t panic. But it’s reasonable to start an inquiry into what might be causing the delay.

A few things you can try:

• Contact DHL Support: Get in touch with customer service via phone, email, or chat. Provide your tracking number and they should be able to investigate status and location details.
• Verify Scans Elsewhere: Use a tracking aggregator site to check if your shipment has actually left the export center but Deutsche Post systems missed scanning its dispatch.
• Ask the Seller to Assist: As the DHL account holder, the shop you purchased from can also contact support or provide any customs paperwork needed to get your package moving again if required.

Getting clarification from DHL directly is your best route. This can determine if it’s a continuation of normal processing delays or something exceptional requiring intervention.

How Does DHL Express Shipping and Tracking Work?

DHL Express is the time-definite international shipping wing of Deutsche Post DHL operations. This unit manages delivery of urgent documents and parcels to over 220 countries.

It leverages a vast logistics network including:

• Flight and vehicle fleets
• Local operating facilities across the globe
• Advanced tracking technologies

For items shipped via DHL Express from Germany, the process includes:

1. Sender drops off package at DHL service point or it’s collected
2. Shipment received and processed at origin export parcel facility
3. Flown internationally to destination country import center
4. Clears Customs
5. Sorting for final delivery
6. Out for delivery to provided address
7. Tracking updates throughout

DHL also offers a money-back guarantee on its published timelines, giving it a reliable reputation.

So if shipping something urgent from Germany that needs to arrive quickly, DHL Express can get it there within 2-3 days on average. Albeit at a higher cost than economy delivery options which take longer like DHL eCommerce.

What Other DHL Statuses Might I See During Transit?

In addition to “Processed at the parcel center”, when tracking a DHL package you may see a range of other status messages indicating its journey stage:

• Shipment on its way
• Arrived in destination country
• Arrival at Sort Facility
• Customs Clearance
• Out for Delivery Today
• Available for Pickup
• Delivered

Between origin export processing through to final verified delivery, international DHL packages can have over 15+ different tracking event updates.

Monitoring these helps identify whether everything is moving as expected or if any issues arise for things like:

• Missed connections
• Customs delays
• Clearance problems
• Attempted delivery failure
• Transfer back to shipper

So don’t just check tracking once. Follow all statuses end-to-end.

How Long Until My Shipment Arrives from Germany?

How long your DHL delivery takes from Germany to your country depends on a few key factors:

• Shipping Speed: Economy vs express transport times
• Destination: Transit days varies by country
• Customs: Some imports cleared faster than others
• Logistics: aircraft/vehicle availability fluctuates

But on average, once your package leaves the origin export center you can expect:

• DHL Express: 2-3 days for express delivery
• DHL eCommerce: 4-8 days for economic parcels

Add another 1-2 days if package needs secondary processing upon arrival before final delivery.

So if you see your shipment departed Germany within a couple days of the initial export parcel center processing update, you should have your package within less than a week on average. Sometimes faster!

But confirm by checking those delivery ETA forecasts within the DHL tracking. This will adjust based on actual events.

What Happens if My Package Gets Stuck in Transit?

Despite the best efforts of carriers like DHL, international shipping delays or exceptions can occur. Weather, mistaken routing, customs holds, and more can very occasionally divert a package.

If your DHL tracking is showing no changes for 5+ days or an abnormal status, try these steps:

• Verify Tracking Elsewhere – Websites like ParcelsApp scan 400+ postal databases to double check records.
• Contact DHL Support – Get clarity from the experts on what’s going on and how to get it back on track.
• Inquire with Sender – The retailer you bought from can often expedite inquiries as the DHL account owner.
• Be Patient – Unless lost which is extremely rare, even slightly delayed international parcels eventually resume route.

Stuck packages annoy everyone, but DHL has teams dedicated to intercepting and correcting issues quickly when they arise. So reach out for help and don’t panic.

Final Thoughts

Checking your DHL tracking and seeing “Processed at the parcel center of origin” can first create anxiety that your Deutsche Post package is delayed or stuck. But in fact this is a standard update indicating it’s ready to be dispatched abroad.

Common reasons it may sit for a few days at this export facility include weather, customs preparations, flight schedules, holidays, and basic logistics backlogs.

Have more patience for economy shipments. Express services like DHL Express often transit much faster direct by air once leaving the origin country parcel center.

If you don’t receive additional tracking updates after 10 days however, do reach out to DHL support or the sender for help investigating. International shipping is complex, but with the right tools and information your package will safely arrive!