EU Imports from foreign webstores soared 330%! in the last two years, boosting air cargo volumes to Europe. 4.6 billion items below €150 were shipped into EU-countries in 2024 of which 91% comes from China. Customs authorities struggle to handle the swelled flows. That’s one of the reasons the European Commission plans to charge up to €2 per item and remove the VAT exemption.
This year volumes tend to flatten out, and the proposal will likely add to prices, but at the same time the more aggressive US-approach may push Chinese companies to eat some of this themselves, to secure sales volumes.
Also for #logistics companies for instance active in Dutch hub Schiphol something relevant to keep watching.
