EU customs fees slash Chinese parcel shipments to Poland

The European Union introduced a new customs charge of €3 per product category on parcels from China, ending the previous exemption for shipments valued up to €150. The fee applies to each distinct item in a package, so a mixed order can incur multiple charges.

Polish e‑commerce saw a sharp decline in July, with Poczta Polska reporting a drop of around 10‑15 percent in shipments from China and analysts estimating a reduction of about one billion parcels per year. The higher cost is prompting consumers to curb small, impulse purchases.

Refunds are not returned on returned items because the customs duty is settled by the seller or platform, as explained by Marcin Łoboda, head of the National Tax Administration. Remigiusz Gumowski, e‑commerce director at Fulfilio, warned that the extra €3 can represent a significant share of low‑value goods, further discouraging purchases. Additional handling fees of €2‑4 are slated for November, and the €150 exemption will be removed entirely in 2028.