Customs: Surge in Chinese packages tied to shipping shifts, not consumer stockpiling

Dutch customs officials say a recent surge in low-cost parcels arriving in the Netherlands from outside the European Union appears to be linked to shifting shipping routes rather than a rush by consumers to buy Chinese goods before new EU fees take effect, RTL reported.

Data from the Dutch customs authority showed that the number of non-EU packages entering the Netherlands remained relatively stable in January and February but rose sharply in March, especially in the first half of the month. Average daily parcel volumes increased by more than 20 percent from February levels to roughly 2.15 million packages per day.

The increase comes ahead of new European Union measures aimed at curbing the flood of inexpensive imports, many originating from China through online marketplaces such as Temu. Beginning July 1, EU member states plan to introduce a 3-euro charge on low-value imports currently exempt from customs duties and value-added tax. A further 2-euro handling fee per item is expected to begin in November, with the revenue intended to support customs inspections.

Dutch customs attributed the March rise to a "waterbed effect" resulting from France's implementation of a 2-euro handling fee on March 1. According to a customs spokesperson, sellers outside the EU may have redirected shipments through countries such as the Netherlands, where the additional fee had not yet been introduced, using those countries as alternative entry points into the EU market.

European officials have argued that the current exemption for low-value imports creates unfair competition for European retailers, which must pay import-related charges. Authorities also say the enormous volume of small parcels makes safety and standards enforcement difficult, with some imported products failing to meet EU requirements.

The Netherlands saw an average of 3.3 million incoming parcels per day during 2024, a peak year for low-cost imports, according to customs figures.