Greece flooded with cheap parcels from China – Market restarts after tariffs

Small-value purchases made by European consumers from third-country platforms, such as TEMU and SHEIN, are expected to become more expensive from 2026.

Ecofin approved the imposition of customs duties even on parcels under 150 euros, abolishing a privilege that in recent years had led to an explosive increase in imports from China.

It is worth noting that in 2024 alone, almost 4.6 billion small parcels valued at less than 150 euros entered the European Union. This volume translates into approximately 12 million parcels per day, while 91% are estimated to come from China, according to Fani Blioumi, president of the Federation of Commerce, Entrepreneurship, and Productivity of Central Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

"The problem is that we cannot be competitive. Greek businesses could not face unfair competition. We have already lost a lot of time until these measures are implemented so that consumers can turn to Greek businesses again," she explained.

Regarding the imposition of tariffs, they are expected to restore some balance in the market.

"From the moment the tariffs are imposed, we will be competitive again, but great damage has already been caused to Greek entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, the state has also lost significant revenue from its coffers," emphasized Ms. Blioumi.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Commerce, Productivity and Entrepreneurship of Central Eastern Macedonia and Thrace had already sent a letter to the Ministers of National Economy, Finance and Development in June, sounding the alarm about Asian e-commerce platforms.

According to data from the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, state fiscal losses exceeded 200 million euros in one year, while at least 5,000 jobs have been lost.

The need for sweeping controls on products entering Greece from China is expressed by Pantelis Filippidis, president of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce. The president of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce explained that controls should focus on the EU's safety standards.

"The consumer turns to where he can pay, to platforms that sell almost for nothing. However, they should be aware that many of the products are of dubious quality. That's where the state must intervene, carrying out checks, taking samples, and sending them to the State Chemical," he says.

According to recent data from the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Greek consumers spent an estimated 529-627 million euros on the Chinese platforms Shein and Temu in 2024.

This amount corresponds to 17.6% to 20.9% of all online purchases in the country, confirming the rapid penetration of Asian marketplaces into the Greek market.

For 2024 alone, the loss of tax revenue is estimated at 11.6-13.8 million euros, while the loss of social security contributions is estimated at 30-35.5 million euros. In addition, 7.6-9 million euros were lost from payroll tax and 56.5 million euros from customs duties.

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