Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Seeing “Shipment on hold” in DHL tracking can feel a little alarming. The package was moving, then—nothing. No new city, no flight update, no cheerful “Out for delivery” message.
The good news is that an on-hold status does not automatically mean the shipment is lost. It means DHL has temporarily paused or cannot currently advance the package at that tracking checkpoint.
Sometimes you need to provide a document, pay an official import charge, or correct an address. Other times, the shipment is simply waiting for the next flight, local working day, or available network connection.
The detailed tracking remark is the key. Start there before sending random paperwork or calling every few hours.
What Does DHL Shipment on Hold Mean?
“Shipment on hold” means DHL has temporarily paused or cannot currently advance the shipment at that point in the journey.
The status does not automatically mean:
- the package is lost;
- customs has seized it;
- the shipment will be returned;
- the goods are prohibited;
- you must make a payment;
- the delivery will be delayed for a fixed number of days.
A shipment may be waiting for:
- the next available flight, vehicle, or network movement;
- a weekend or public holiday to pass;
- customs processing or inspection;
- information from the shipper, consignee, or importer;
- payment of verified duties, taxes, or another official charge;
- corrected delivery details;
- operating capacity at a DHL hub or delivery station;
- weather, security, or regulatory conditions to improve.
The exact reason is normally found in the detailed tracking remark or confirmed through DHL using the shipment’s waybill number.
Read the Detailed DHL Tracking Remark First
The headline status is only the starting point. Before contacting DHL or uploading documents, check five details.
1. Exact Status Wording
Read the full message. Shipment on hold, Clearance event, Processed at facility, and Delivery exception do not mean the same thing.
2. Date and Local Time
A Friday-evening hold may simply continue through a weekend or local holiday. Check the time zone of the service area shown in tracking.
3. DHL Service Area or Location
The location can help you judge whether the package is at an origin station, international gateway, customs facility, transit hub, or destination delivery station.
4. Detailed Remark
Look for wording about:
- missing documents;
- customs processing;
- duties or taxes;
- address information;
- the next planned movement;
- weather;
- operating capacity;
- recipient action.
5. Requested Action
Check whether DHL is asking the shipper, recipient, importer, or another party to respond. The latest tracking checkpoint is more useful than a general internet estimate.
A package waiting for a planned flight needs a different response from one waiting for an importer identification number.
Shipment on Hold vs. Clearance Event and Delivery Exception
These tracking statuses are related, but they are not interchangeable.
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Tracking status
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General meaning
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Common next step
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Shipment on hold
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The shipment is temporarily paused at a checkpoint
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Read the detailed remark and check for action
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Clearance event
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Customs processing is underway or requires attention
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Check whether documents or importer action are requested
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Customs inspection
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Customs or another authority is examining the shipment
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Wait or provide the requested evidence
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Duties or taxes pending
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An official import charge may need payment
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Verify the request through an official DHL channel
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Delivery exception
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A problem occurred during final delivery
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Correct the address or arrange another delivery step
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Processed at facility
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DHL received or processed the shipment at a location
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Usually wait for the next movement scan
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Scheduled for next movement
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The shipment is waiting for planned transport
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Monitor tracking unless DHL requests action
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A broad on-hold message does not prove the package is in customs. Look for a clearance-specific event before treating it as a customs case.
For comparison with another common status, see what “in transit” means.
How Does a DHL Hold Affect the Delivery Timeline?
A hold can change the estimated delivery date, but there is no universal delay period.
The impact depends on:
- the exact hold reason;
- whether DHL needs action from another party;
- the DHL service being used;
- the origin and destination;
- local working hours;
- weekends and public holidays;
- customs inspection;
- how quickly correct documents are submitted;
- duties or taxes;
- the type of product;
- flight, vehicle, hub, or delivery capacity.
If the shipment is waiting for routine network movement, the next scan may appear without anyone doing anything. If customs needs a corrected invoice, the shipment may remain paused until the responsible party provides one.
That is why a fixed answer such as “all holds clear within 48 hours” is not reliable.
Why Is My DHL Shipment on Hold?
The easiest way to understand the cause is to divide holds into two groups: those that may need action and those that may resolve through normal operations.
Holds That May Require Action
Missing or Incorrect Commercial Documents
DHL or customs may need:
- a commercial invoice;
- a packing list;
- proof of payment;
- a detailed product description;
- a corrected quantity, value, or currency;
- country-of-origin information;
- an HS code or classification detail.
Documents should be complete and consistent. If one invoice says USD 100 and another says USD 350, the correction can create another question instead of solving the first one.
Importer Identification or Permit
The destination country may require an importer number, tax ID, business registration, product license, health certificate, or other permit.
The shipper cannot always provide these documents. The consignee or importer of record may need to respond.
Duties, Taxes, and Other Charges
A shipment may wait for payment or confirmation of:
- import duties;
- VAT or another tax;
- customs brokerage or advancement fees;
- storage or handling fees;
- an account or billing issue;
- a recipient-payment requirement.
Verify the charge through an official DHL tracking page, account, invoice, or customer-service channel. Do not pay through an unfamiliar shortened link in a text or email.
Incorrect Address or Contact Details
A missing apartment number, incorrect postal code, invalid phone number, or incomplete business address can interrupt delivery.
International addresses may also need district, province, building, company, or local-script details that are not obvious to the sender.
Receiver or Importer Instructions
DHL may need the recipient to choose a delivery option, authorize clearance, confirm a tax number, appoint a broker, or provide proof of identity.
Holds That May Not Require Immediate Action
Weekend or Public Holiday
The package may be waiting for the next local operating period. Remember that the origin, transit hub, customs office, and destination can follow different calendars.
Weather or Natural Disaster
Storms, flooding, wildfires, snow, earthquakes, and other events can affect flights, roads, hubs, customs offices, and local delivery routes.
Missed Connection or Scheduled Next Movement
A package may miss a planned flight or vehicle because of late arrival, capacity, security screening, or a previous delay. It can remain at the same location until the next available movement.
Network or Capacity Congestion
A shipment may pause because of limited capacity at an airport, DHL hub, road network, port, or intermodal transfer point. The relevant type of congestion depends on the DHL service being used.
Port congestion is more relevant to ocean freight and forwarding services than to every DHL Express parcel.
Security or Regulatory Screening
DHL, customs, aviation security, or another authority may need additional screening. Unless information is requested, the sender or recipient may only be able to monitor the status.
Delayed Tracking Synchronization
The physical shipment and the public tracking page do not always update at the same moment. A customs release or facility movement may appear later in the tracking history.
Restricted and Prohibited Goods
Restricted and prohibited goods are not the same.
- Prohibited goods cannot be accepted under the applicable service or law.
- Restricted goods may be accepted only when packaging, documents, licenses, quantities, account approval, or route conditions are met.
Products that often need extra review include:
- lithium batteries and powered electronics;
- dangerous goods;
- liquids and cosmetics;
- medicines and medical devices;
- food and supplements;
- animal or plant products;
- high-value goods;
- branded products;
- dual-use items;
- oversized or palletized freight.
Urgency does not remove these rules. A package cannot simply outrun a missing permit.
How Long Can a DHL Shipment Stay on Hold?
There is no single answer. The duration depends on the reason and the action needed.
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Situation
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How to judge the timeline
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DHL requested information
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The case can move after complete information is received and accepted
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Duties or taxes are pending
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Timing depends on verified payment and customs processing
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Customs inspection
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The customs authority controls the review time
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Weekend or holiday
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Movement may resume during the next local operating period
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Weather or network disruption
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Timing depends on route and service recovery
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Waiting for next movement
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Check the next planned tracking update
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No clear reason shown
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Ask DHL for the detailed hold reason and responsible party
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Contact DHL when:
- the tracking remark asks you to respond;
- the estimated delivery date has passed;
- DHL promised another update and that window passed;
- tracking remains unchanged longer than the route and local schedule reasonably explain;
- the shipment contains urgent, regulated, perishable, or business-critical goods.
Repeated calls alone will not speed up a customs review, make a flight leave sooner, or clear severe weather. If DHL requests action, provide the complete information promptly, record the case number, and follow up after the stated update window.
What Should I Do When My DHL Shipment Is on Hold?
If No Action Is Requested
- Check the detailed tracking remark.
- Note the location, local time, and estimated delivery date.
- Check weekends, holidays, weather, and service disruptions.
- Wait for the next reasonable network update.
- Contact DHL if the expected update or delivery window passes.
If Documents Are Requested
Confirm which party must provide the document. The shipper may need to correct the commercial invoice, while the consignee may need to provide an importer number or permit.
Submit clear and consistent documents. Do not send several invoices with different values or product descriptions unless DHL specifically requests a correction history.
If Duties or Taxes Are Requested
Verify:
- the airway bill or tracking number;
- the shipment and recipient details;
- the amount and currency;
- whether the charge appears in an official account, tracking page, invoice, or verified DHL communication;
- who is responsible under the transaction and shipping terms.
If the Address Is Incorrect
Provide the full corrected address, postal code, recipient name, phone number, email, apartment or building details, and any access instructions DHL requests.
Address changes may be restricted after dispatch or customs processing. Do not assume DHL can freely redirect every international shipment.
If the Shipment Is Urgent
Explain why it is time-sensitive and ask DHL which shipment-specific options are available. Medical goods, replacement parts, perishables, and production-critical items may follow different escalation paths.
Urgency does not remove customs, dangerous-goods, product, or destination restrictions.
Which Documents May DHL or Customs Request?
The exact requirement depends on the shipment and destination.
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Document or information
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Why it may be needed
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Commercial invoice
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Product, value, parties, and transaction details
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Packing list
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Package count, quantity, weight, and packing details
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Proof of payment
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Support for the declared transaction value
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Detailed goods description
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Classification, security, and admissibility review
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HS code information
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Product classification and duty treatment
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Country of origin
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Origin marking and trade-measure review
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Importer ID or tax number
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Importer identification under destination rules
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License or permit
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Controlled or regulated product entry
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Certificate of origin
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Origin claim or trade-preference support
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Battery or safety documents
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Carrier and dangerous-goods compliance
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Power of attorney
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Broker authorization where required
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DHL recommends complete party information, precise goods descriptions, classification details, origin, values, and weights for customs processing. Review its customs guidance for international shippers when preparing commercial shipment data.
For example, women’s cotton T-shirts is more useful than clothing. Stainless-steel machine bracket is more useful than parts. A vague description is like labeling a kitchen drawer “stuff.” True, perhaps, but not helpful.
How to Pay DHL Duties and Charges Safely
Fraudulent delivery messages often claim that a customs or redelivery fee must be paid immediately.
Before paying:
- Open the official DHL website or app yourself.
- Enter the waybill or tracking number through the official tracking page.
- Confirm the recipient, shipment, amount, and currency.
- Check whether the charge appears in an official invoice or verified DHL account.
- Contact DHL customer support if the request cannot be matched to the shipment.
DHL’s fraud-awareness guidance warns about fake emails, SMS messages, shortened links, and accounts pretending to be DHL.
Do not ignore a verified duties request. Just do not pay a random message because it has a yellow logo.
Who Should Contact DHL or Provide the Missing Information?
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Party
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Typical role in resolving a hold
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Shipper or exporter
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Commercial invoice, export documents, goods description, value, origin, and packing information
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Consignee or recipient
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Address, phone, delivery instruction, and receipt availability
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Importer of record
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Import identification, permits, duties, taxes, and customs declarations
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Seller
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Customer communication, replacement, refund, and order evidence
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Fulfillment center or 3PL
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Warehouse records, labels, package details, and carrier handoff evidence
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DHL or customs broker
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Transportation, clearance communication, document review, and status explanation
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Customs authority
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Inspection, admissibility, valuation, classification, and release decisions
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The person who purchased the product is not always the importer of record. The shipper is not always responsible for import charges. Check the order terms, commercial invoice, and shipment arrangement.
How to Reduce Avoidable DHL Holds
Not every hold can be prevented. Weather, security screening, customs inspection, and network disruptions can still happen. Good shipment data does remove many avoidable questions, though.
Use a Specific Product Description
Describe what the item is, what it is made from, and what it is used for. Avoid vague descriptions such as sample, parts, gift, or accessories without more detail.
Keep Invoice and Label Data Consistent
Names, addresses, quantities, values, currencies, weights, origin, and descriptions should not conflict across the waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, and electronic customs data.
Verify the Shipping Address
Confirm:
- recipient name;
- company name where relevant;
- street and building details;
- apartment, unit, or floor;
- city, state, province, and postal code;
- country;
- phone number;
- email address.
Prepare the Importer
Confirm that the recipient or importer:
- expects the shipment;
- can be contacted;
- has the required ID or registration;
- knows who pays duties and taxes;
- can provide permits or declarations when needed.
Check Goods Before Pickup
Confirm carrier acceptance, packaging, documentation, licenses, and destination rules for batteries, dangerous goods, liquids, medicines, food, plants, animals, branded goods, and high-value products.
Check Origin, Transit, and Destination Calendars
A shipment can leave China normally and then pause at a destination hub during a local weekend or public holiday.
For broader planning, see shipping delays and how to deal with them.
Common DHL Hold Scenarios by Industry
Electronics and Batteries
The shipment may need battery classification, packaging confirmation, safety documents, or an approved dangerous-goods route.
Healthcare and Medical Devices
Customs may require product registration, prescriptions, permits, importer information, temperature records, or a clearer intended-use description.
Cosmetics and Liquids
Ingredients, volume, flammability, labeling, import registration, and carrier restrictions may affect clearance and transport.
Fashion and Branded Goods
Customs may examine product value, materials, country of origin, trademark authorization, or possible counterfeit risk.
Food and Supplements
The importer may need health certificates, ingredient information, registrations, or permits from the destination authority.
Industrial Replacement Parts
An unclear description such as machine part may cause questions. Include the component name, material, function, model, and intended use.
How Ecommerce Businesses Should Handle a DHL Shipment on Hold
Create an Exception Alert
Flag an order when:
- a DHL hold event appears;
- an action request is added;
- tracking does not update within the expected route window;
- the estimated delivery date changes or disappears;
- customs or a delivery station requests information.
Assign One Owner
Give one team member responsibility for the case. Several people sending different invoices and messages can make the situation harder to untangle.
Keep an Evidence Log
Record:
- tracking screenshots;
- DHL case or reference number;
- documents submitted;
- submission date and channel;
- duties or taxes paid;
- customer messages;
- revised estimated delivery date;
- final cause and resolution.
Update the Customer Honestly
Use a message such as:
DHL has temporarily placed the shipment on hold at its current checkpoint. We are checking whether any document or recipient action is required. We will share the next confirmed update rather than guess at a delivery date.
Set a Replacement or Refund Threshold
Define when the business will wait, reship, replace, refund, or open a carrier claim. The threshold can vary by product value, urgency, margin, destination, and customer promise.
Businesses that need coordinated documentation, warehouse handling, and carrier handoff can review ecommerce shipping services.
Conclusion
A DHL shipment-on-hold status means the package is temporarily paused. It does not tell you the full reason by itself.
Start with the detailed tracking remark. Then decide whether the shipment is waiting for network movement or waiting for action from the shipper, consignee, importer, or customs authority.
Do not upload random documents, pay an unverified message, or repeatedly contact DHL without knowing what is missing. One accurate response usually helps more than five worried ones.
FAQs
What does DHL shipment on hold mean?
It means DHL has temporarily paused or cannot currently advance the shipment at that tracking checkpoint. Check the detailed remark to see whether action is required.
Does DHL shipment on hold mean customs?
Not always. The shipment may be waiting for customs, the next network movement, capacity, weather, a holiday, address information, payment, or another operational step.
How long can a DHL shipment stay on hold?
There is no universal period. The time depends on the hold reason, service, route, customs authority, requested action, weekends, holidays, and network conditions.
Should I contact DHL immediately?
Contact DHL promptly if the tracking remark requests action, the delivery date has passed, an expected update did not occur, or the shipment is urgent. If it is waiting for routine network movement, monitor the next scan first.
What documents does DHL need for customs clearance?
Possible requests include a commercial invoice, packing list, detailed product description, HS code information, origin, proof of payment, importer ID, license, permit, certificate, or safety document. The exact requirement depends on the shipment and destination.
How do I know whether a DHL duties payment request is real?
Verify the tracking number, recipient, amount, and request through the official DHL website, app, account, invoice, or customer support. Avoid unknown shortened links and suspicious messages.
Why is my DHL shipment on hold at the same location?
It may be waiting for the next flight or vehicle, customs processing, information, payment, capacity, weather recovery, or a local operating period. Read the newest detailed tracking remark.
Can DHL deliver after a shipment-on-hold status?
Yes. Many holds are temporary. After the issue is resolved or the next movement becomes available, tracking can resume and the package can continue to delivery.
Will DHL return an on-hold shipment to the sender?
It may happen if required information, payment, permits, or delivery instructions are not provided, or if the goods cannot be imported or delivered. The outcome depends on the shipment and applicable terms.
What should a business tell a customer when a DHL shipment is on hold?
Explain that the shipment is temporarily paused, state whether action is required, avoid guessing a new arrival date, and promise the next update after DHL confirms the cause or revised timeline.
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