MORE EXPENSIVE PARCELS FROM CHINA - ADDITIONAL FEE OF €2 - WHAT CHANGES IN ONLINE SHOPPING - Filenews 19/10
A new burden on online purchases from China and other third countries is brought by the imposition of a fee of €2 from November 1, 2026 on small parcels entering the European Union. The charge is on top of the €3 tariff that has been in place since July, increasing the cost of cheap orders from platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress.
For low-value shipments with one product category, the total charge is €5. However, the final amount depends on the different product categories included in the order and is not necessarily calculated per parcel or piece.
How is the surcharge calculated?
Indicatively, a package with two identical pens costs a total of €5 . However, if it includes a pen, notebook and keychain, the charge can reach €15, as these are three different categories of products.
The new fee of €2 applies regardless of value, while the temporary duty of €3 applies to imports up to €150, the publication states. Businesses can pass on additional costs to final prices, limiting the advantage of particularly cheap purchases.
Fewer small parcels, higher average value
The first effects of the €3 tariff are already reflected in European freight flows. According to French customs data cited by France's Ministry of Economy, the number of small parcels entering the EU fell by 30%-40% after the implementation of the measure on July 1, 2026.
In the same period, their average value increased from 8.82 to 11.47 euros. This development suggests that a decline in the number of shipments does not necessarily imply a corresponding reduction in purchases.
One possible explanation is that consumers gather more products in one order, attempting to proportionally limit additional costs. At the same time, platforms are adapting their distribution practices.
The size of the market is reflected in the data for 2025, when almost 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU, compared to 1.4 billion in 2022. 93% came from China.
European warehouses and local partners
In the face of the new charges, Chinese platforms are strengthening European warehouses and partnerships with local sellers, adapting the way they serve orders.
Temu has set a goal for up to 80% of its European sales to be served in the future through local partners and distribution. Shein, for its part, operates a large logistics center in Poland.
This shift may limit direct shipments from China, without implying a corresponding reduction in the presence of products on the European market.
For European retail, the question is whether the additional charges will shift some of the demand to local stores or whether Chinese platforms will maintain their momentum by adjusting prices and delivery methods.
