The European Union received almost 5.9 billion low-value imported items in 2025, up 26% from the previous year and more than four times the volume recorded in 2022, according to the European Commission. The unprecedented expansion of cross-border e-commerce is placing growing pressure on customs authorities, accelerating regulatory reforms and challenging the direct-to-consumer shipping model used by international marketplaces.
More than 90% of these imports originated in China, highlighting the importance of Chinese manufacturers and online retailers to Europe's e-commerce market. With approximately 16 million low-value items entering the EU every day, authorities are increasingly concerned about product safety, customs enforcement and competition between European businesses and overseas sellers.
The figures provide important context for the EU's decision to eliminate its €150 customs-duty exemption in July 2026 and introduce new requirements for marketplaces, importers and logistics providers.
According to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, low-value imports increased from approximately 1.39 billion items in 2022 to 5.88 billion in 2025. The expansion accelerated during 2023 and 2024 before continuing with another 26% increase in 2025.
Low-value imports made up about 98% of imported items in the relevant customs statistics, despite accounting for a relatively small share of their total declared value. In the first half of 2025, these goods made up 97.9% of imported items but only 2.1% of their value, with an average declared value of about €8.82 per item. These figures illustrate the challenge customs authorities face: processing enormous quantities of inexpensive merchandise while ensuring compliance with European regulations.
The statistics refer to imported items, not individual parcels or customer orders. A single parcel can contain multiple products, meaning the 5.9 billion figure should not be interpreted as an equivalent number of shipments. Nevertheless, the growth demonstrates how international e-commerce has transformed the operational demands placed on European customs systems.
More than 90% of the low-value items entering the EU in 2025 originated in China, according to the European Commission. Chinese marketplaces and retailers, including Temu, SHEIN and AliExpress, have helped expand direct-to-consumer international commerce by connecting European shoppers with manufacturers and sellers offering competitively priced merchandise.
Their business models benefit from extensive manufacturing networks, international logistics infrastructure, and shipping arrangements that can transport large volumes of small orders across borders. However, the Commission's statistics do not break down sales by individual marketplace, making it impossible to determine precisely how many items were sold through each platform.
The concentration of imports from China has nevertheless intensified the debate over whether existing customs rules provide a level playing field for European retailers and international sellers. European businesses importing merchandise through conventional commercial channels have historically faced different customs arrangements from overseas sellers shipping qualifying low-value orders directly to consumers. This imbalance has become a key argument for the EU's customs reform.
Until June 30, 2026, goods imported into the EU in consignments valued at €150 or less generally benefited from an exemption from customs duties. The exemption was originally designed to avoid disproportionate administrative costs when processing inexpensive imported merchandise. However, the rapid expansion of international e-commerce changed the policy's economic assumptions.
European authorities also raised concerns about undervaluation and the artificial splitting of shipments to stay below the exemption threshold. Consequently, the EU eliminated the €150 customs-duty exemption on July 1, 2026, introducing a temporary €3 duty on qualifying low-value imports. The duty is calculated based on the tariff classifications in a consignment, not simply the number of physical products or parcels.
For example, a shipment containing five identical T-shirts would generally incur a €3 duty. A shipment containing T-shirts and a watch would incur €6 because the products belong to two different tariff classifications. The temporary measure is scheduled to remain in place until July 1, 2028, when the EU expects to implement its new centralized customs infrastructure for e-commerce. Importantly, the duty does not replace VAT obligations, which continue to operate under separate rules. For international retailers operating on narrow margins, the additional costs could influence pricing, shipping strategies and the economic viability of low-value orders.
Beyond taxation, the European Commission has raised concerns about the safety and regulatory compliance of products purchased from overseas online retailers. Targeted inspections in 2025 identified significant non-compliance among selected imported consumer goods, including toys, electronics, cosmetics, and personal protective equipment.
More than 60% of the products examined in certain targeted inspections failed to meet applicable requirements, including documentation, labeling and product-safety standards. These findings do not establish that the same proportion of all imported products is non-compliant, since the inspections focused on goods considered potentially problematic.
Nevertheless, they highlight the difficulties associated with supervising millions of small consignments entering the single market every day. The customs reform therefore extends beyond additional import duties. It seeks to strengthen product identification, improve customs data, and clarify responsibilities for online marketplaces and sellers.
From November 1, 2026, additional product identification requirements will apply to relevant low-value import declarations. A separate handling fee is also planned to help cover customs supervision and administrative costs. The broader reform will place greater responsibility on platforms and sellers involved in international distance sales, including obligations relating to customs formalities, duty payments and regulatory compliance. For marketplaces handling large volumes of international orders, accurate product classification and reliable customs information will become increasingly important.
The elimination of the customs-duty exemption could also influence how international retailers organize their European supply chains. Direct shipping from overseas manufacturers has allowed marketplaces to offer extensive product selections without maintaining substantial inventories within individual European markets.
However, additional customs duties, handling fees, and compliance obligations could shift this model's relative advantages. Some retailers may increase their reliance on European fulfillment centers, consolidated imports, and regional distribution networks to improve delivery performance and simplify operations.
Importing merchandise in bulk does not eliminate customs duties or product compliance obligations. Nevertheless, consolidated shipments may offer administrative and logistical advantages over processing millions of individual cross-border consignments. European warehousing can also support faster delivery, more predictable returns management and greater control over inventory availability.
For logistics providers, these developments could increase demand for customs expertise, local fulfillment services, and integrated international distribution. However, the financial advantages will depend on individual product categories, inventory costs and shipping volumes. The new rules do not automatically make European warehousing the most economical solution for every retailer.
The European Union's longer-term strategy involves a comprehensive modernization of customs administration through the EU Customs Data Hub. Scheduled to become mandatory for e-commerce imports from July 1, 2028, the centralized platform will consolidate customs information and improve cooperation between national authorities.
The objective is to replace fragmented reporting arrangements with a more integrated system that can process large volumes of international trade data. Customs authorities will be able to conduct coordinated risk assessments, identify potentially problematic shipments and monitor international supply chains more effectively. The reform also establishes a new EU Customs Authority, based in Lille, France, to coordinate risk management and oversee the development of the centralized infrastructure.
For retailers, marketplaces and logistics providers, the transition will require greater attention to data accuracy, product identification and compliance systems.
The importation of almost 5.9 billion low-value items in 2025 illustrates the extraordinary expansion of international e-commerce within the European single market.
It also explains why the EU is replacing a customs framework originally designed for much smaller volumes of international shipments. The elimination of the €150 exemption, the introduction of temporary duties, stronger marketplace responsibilities, and the development of centralized customs infrastructure represent a significant shift in the regulatory environment.
For international marketplaces, the reforms could influence product pricing, sourcing and fulfillment strategies. For logistics providers, they create opportunities to support retailers as they navigate increasingly complex customs requirements. The implications extend beyond Chinese platforms. Any business shipping low-value merchandise directly to European consumers from outside the EU must consider the evolving regulatory framework.
As additional requirements take effect in November 2026 and the Customs Data Hub approaches implementation in 2028, competitive pricing alone may no longer be sufficient. Efficient fulfillment, accurate customs information, and regulatory compliance will become increasingly important factors in the European cross-border e-commerce market.
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