The European Commission says 5.8 billion low-value e-commerce parcels entered the EU in 2025, up 26%, according to The Standard (Reuters). The EU plans a temporary €3 fee from July before the planned scrapping of the customs duty exemption that has helped platforms such as Temu and Shein.
At a glance
- Parcel volume
- 5.8 billion in 2025
- Annual rise
- 26%
- Planned fee
- €3 on low-value parcels
- From
- July
- Who it affects
- Low-value parcels entering the EU, including orders sent to Ireland from outside the EU
On this page
Most parcels come from China
Most parcels come from China, including direct-to-consumer shipments from platforms such as Temu and Shein, according to the European Commission.
Iceclog describes the annual total as roughly one shipment per EU citizen per month. Its report covers parcels valued at €150 or less.
What Irish shoppers should check
If you order cheap goods for delivery to Ireland, check where the parcel will be dispatched from. The Commission says the customs duty exemption for parcels under €150 has helped platforms shipping from China directly to consumers.
Read the dispatch information for the goods in your basket and record the parcel value shown in your order details.
The EU plans a temporary €3 fee
The planned charge is €3 on low-value parcels from July, Reuters reports. It is a temporary measure before the planned scrapping of the duty exemption.
For an order you are considering, review any import charge shown before paying and save the checkout total with your order receipt.
The Commission estimates widespread undervaluation
The Commission has estimated that some 65% of small parcels entering the EU were undervalued to avoid customs duties.
Retain the receipt showing what you paid for your goods. If you need to provide a purchase value, use that record rather than copying a lower value from a parcel label.
Questions
How many low-value parcels entered the EU in 2025?
The European Commission says 5.8 billion low-value e-commerce parcels entered the EU in 2025. That was a 26% rise on the previous year, and most came from China.
When is the planned €3 EU parcel fee due to start?
The EU plans to introduce the €3 fee on low-value parcels from July. Reuters describes it as a temporary measure before the planned scrapping of the customs duty exemption.
Why are Temu and Shein mentioned in the EU parcel figures?
The Commission says the duty exemption for parcels under €150 has helped platforms such as Temu and Shein that ship from China directly to consumers.
Sources
- The Standard (Reuters): European Union imports of cheap ecommerce parcels jump 26pc in 2025, read 26 January 2026
- ICECLOG: The Volume of EU Imports in Cheap Ecommerce Increased, read 26 January 2026
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PostCompare news desk
PostCompare compares courier prices for parcels sent from Ireland. Every post links the pages its facts come from and, where a route is involved, shows our own prices beside it. How we choose and check stories
