EU charges on low-value e-commerce parcels could yield €6bn ($6.74bn) annually for the EU budget from 2028 to 2034, Reuters reported, citing a European Commission (EC) document.
The estimate relates to measures addressing increasing low-value online imports, which the EC states arrive mainly from China.
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Last year, 5.8 billion parcels valued below €150 entered the EU, a 26% year-on-year rise, with the EC estimating most were undervalued to avoid customs duties.
Following a €3 charge introduced in early July, an extra €2 per-item fee takes effect on 1 November.
The EC anticipates parcel volumes will fall as retailers adjust.
It projects 90% of revenue will go to the EU budget and 10% to member states, which currently retain 25%, though 2028–2034 budget talks could alter this split.
An EC spokesperson declined to comment to Reuters on the projection while another EC official told the publication reporters that e-commerce revenue could not be prejudged.
Dirk Gotink, the European Parliament lawmaker leading EU customs reforms, said the €2 charge was intended to address “a highly toxic business model of low-value non-compliant e-commerce imports from China”.
The measures are mounting pressure on Chinese e-commerce groups.
In August, Temu owner PDD Holdings said that the changes would considerably affect parts of its business, without providing figures; Temu has also discounted fees for some shoppers, according to screenshots seen by Reuters.
Shein, which generates one-third of revenue from Europe, recorded lower regional sales before the fees began after raising prices and curtailing advertising expenditure.
Expanding warehouse space in Poland, the fast fashion company said it was focused on keeping prices “competitive” while improving delivery speed and convenience.
Alibaba-owned AliExpress is also expanding local warehousing, warning the charges will affect lower-income European households and “exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis”.
Meanwhile, Amazon said 97% of products it sells in the EU are fulfilled from warehouses within the bloc, leaving relatively few shipments affected.
