Swiss Post reports drop in EU parcel volumes due to new customs fees

Swiss Post CEO Pascal Grieder reports that the number of parcels sent to the European Union has dropped by a “middle double-digit percentage” following new EU customs measures. The EU has been collecting a three-euro customs flat rate per item from third countries since July, aimed at curbing the influx of cheap imports from countries like China.

Grieder expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of these measures. He noted that large Chinese e-commerce retailers, such as Temu, may bypass these fees by establishing significant warehouses within Europe to ship goods locally.

In addition to the existing customs rate, a new two-euro processing fee for imports from third countries is set to be implemented by the European Commission on November 1. This fee will be the responsibility of online shopping platforms, potentially affecting major retailers like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. While the measures target cheap imports, Grieder noted that Swiss exporters are also feeling the impact.