EU Flooded By Cheap Parcels: 5.8 Billion In 2025

Small Parcels Are Now A Systemic Issue

The European Commission says parcels worth under €150 are arriving at a pace the system was never built for. Last year alone, 5.8 billion such packages crossed EU borders, most of them shipped directly to consumers from China.

This flow has been driven by fast-growing marketplaces like Temu and Shein. Their model depends on the EU’s “de minimis” rule, which allows low-value goods to enter without customs duties. For shoppers, that means very low prices. For regulators, it means rising pressure on customs, tax collection and safety checks.

A €3 Fee Is Coming

Brussels now plans to introduce a €3 handling fee per parcel from 1 July 2026. The fee is meant as a stop-gap measure while the EU works on scrapping the €150 customs exemption altogether.

According to the Commission, around 65% of low-value parcels may be undervalued, a figure that highlights how much revenue and control the EU is losing under the current system.

Why E-commerce Businesses Should Care

For EU-based retailers, the changes could finally narrow the price gap with ultra-cheap imports. For global marketplaces, higher costs may accelerate a shift towards local warehouses and EU-registered sellers.

Marketers should also take note. If customs costs rise, the era of rock-bottom pricing from outside the EU may be coming to an end.