Chinese e-commerce popularity declines in Slovakia due to new fees

New customs duties and upcoming fees are impacting the popularity of Chinese e-commerce platforms among Slovak consumers. According to a survey by 2muse for e-Commerce Slovakia, the frequency of purchases from major Asian marketplaces has declined following the introduction of new customs regulations.

Market share for frequent users has seen notable drops: Temu’s quarterly shopper share fell from 52% to 41%, Shein decreased from 26% to 18%, and AliExpress saw a slight decline from 18% to 17%. The primary driver for this reduction is cost, with 51% of those shopping less citing duties or additional fees as the main reason.

Despite these changes, price remains the most significant draw, with 81% of respondents still considering prices on Chinese e-shops to be advantageous. Interestingly, consumer concerns regarding product quality and environmental impact remain high, with 53% viewing the goods as low quality and 61% noting a significant negative ecological footprint, yet these factors have not significantly altered shopping habits.