Low-value packages shipped to Lithuania from Asian e-commerce platforms like Temu, AliExpress, and Shein dropped by 30 to 70 percent in July. The plunge follows the European Union’s new three-euro duty on sub-150-euro imports, forcing a shift in consumer habits and retail logistics.
European Union trade policy collided with modern bargain hunting this summer, reshaping how Lithuanian shoppers buy cheap online goods. The charge applies directly to orders placed on major e-commerce platforms, dismantling the zero-duty exemption that previously fueled an influx of inexpensive goods from China.
Logistics Giants Report Steep Drops in Import Volumes
Parcel delivery companies operating in Lithuania report immediate contractions in their import traffic from Asia. The scale of the decline varies significantly depending on the courier and the specific online marketplace.
International French parcel delivery group Geopost subsidiary DPD Lietuva experienced a 70 percent drop in the volume of these low-value shipments as tracked by logistics data. Meanwhile, Estonian-owned postal and logistics firm Omniva noted a contraction in direct orders from Asia, though executives emphasize that it remains too early to classify the trend as permanent. Lukas Zadarackas, a spokesperson for Lithuanian Post and its LP Express self-service parcel terminals, recorded a 30 percent decrease in third-country import volumes.
Industry leaders point out that administrative turbulence compounded the July launch. Seasonal lulls also played a part, as summer traditionally brings a general slowdown in cross-border parcel movement.
Customs Data Confirms the Sudden Shift
Official figures from Lithuanian Customs underscore how the new rule disrupted trade flows. While small-value shipments from China surged during the early months of the year—accounting for 91 percent of all declared imports in January—the momentum ground to a near halt by midsummer (according to customs data).
In July, customs officials recorded just 7.2 thousand small-value shipments from China. That figure represents a 61.3-fold collapse compared to July of the previous year, when customs processed 441.3 thousand similar packages. Across all countries of origin, total declared small-value imports dropped 12.1-fold to 41.1 thousand packages.
Despite the numbers, regulatory and logistics authorities urge caution against drawing permanent conclusions from a single month of data.
How E-Commerce Platforms and Supply Chains Adapt
The measure will remain in effect until July 2028, at which point authorities will decide whether to implement a permanent solution.
Major marketplaces are already reorganizing their supply chains to bypass individual package friction. Olgerdas Janovičius, commercial manager at logistics firm Venipak—which recently announced a merger with DHL eCommerce—explains that the drop in direct shipments does not necessarily translate to an equivalent collapse in actual purchasing according to industry analysis.
Some Chinese online sellers prepared for the regulatory shift by strengthening their operational footprint within Europe and expanding local warehouse networks. By rerouting merchandise directly to European terminals for bulk customs clearance before individual dispatch, these sellers can avoid the friction of individual border duties.
Shifting Shopping Habits Among Lithuanian Consumers
For everyday shoppers, the added cost is changing what digital shopping carts look like. Omniva’s Lithuania head, Tadas Drunga, observes that consumers are modifying their purchasing patterns in response to higher final checkout prices noted in market observations.
Shoppers now exercise greater selectivity, abandoning the habit of tossing inexpensive, unplanned items from multiple categories into a single basket simply because they were cheap. While initial sticker shock drove down volumes in July, logistics providers anticipate that consumers and platforms will eventually find a stable equilibrium.
