The European Union is poised to upend the trade in low-value goods from July, slapping a uniform 3 euro tariff on parcels arriving from abroad under a certain threshold. Platforms like Temu and Shein—Chinese giants peddling bargains direct to Europe’s doorsteps—stand to feel the sharpest sting. This bold stroke could reshape the market’s fault lines and the pecking order among its players.
Temu, Shein, AliExpress orders will be more expensive
As reported by hellosajto.hu, avid fans of Temu, Shein, and similar low-cost delivery services should brace for upheaval. The EU’s rationale? To stem the flood of “artificially cheap” Chinese imports swamping the single market, Hungary included. It’s a protective shield for homegrown traders, plain and simple—a bid to level the playing field.
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Experts predict fewer small parcels trickling in via Temu, Shein, or AliExpress. What’s more, the rules promise greater transparency on shipping costs, production expenses, logistics fees, duties, and taxes.
Forrás: depositphotos.com
Hundreds of billions of euros at stake
The daily Magyar Nemzet warns that Brussels never bothered to ask consumers about the changes, even though they will be the ones footing the bill for the higher costs. The price of low‑value goods – a simple phone case, for instance – is expected to rise so sharply that ordering them will no longer be worth it.
According to the paper, “By 2025, e‑commerce turnover had reached 358.7 billion euros, and seventy per cent of incoming parcels originated from just three platforms. With their rock‑bottom prices, these Chinese marketplaces have, in effect, come to dominate the Hungarian market as well.”
We wrote how Temu conquered the Hungarian online shopping market by 2025 in a separate article. We also covered the company’s summer delivery crisis.
Photo: depositphotos.com
Hungarian market players must adapt
Yet for Hungarian retailers to seize the advantage, they’ll need to sharpen their supply chains and pricing strategies. The aim: keep prices punchy, deliveries swift, and the customer experience tip-top.
Hungarian e-shops can thrive amid the flux, the report argues, by building local or regional warehousing muscle and bolstering top-tier fulfilment services. A slick logistics backbone could prove a game-changer. Precision stock management, rapid order processing, and cutting-edge packaging will be key to dodging the price shocks from rising tariffs.
