Temu study shows European SMEs expanding into new markets

A 2026 study by the e-commerce platform Temu indicates that European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are using the marketplace to expand into international markets and create jobs.

Based on a survey of over 150 local sellers in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, approximately one-third of respondents have expanded to new international markets. About half of the surveyed sellers reported increasing their capacity, hiring new staff, or both since they began operating on the platform.

The report highlights specific success stories, such as the Spanish spare parts company Recamania, which expanded its warehouse and administrative departments due to increased orders, and the French brand Ubedia, which transitioned from part-time to full-time operations following rapid sales growth.

Despite these gains, the study notes that many European SMEs still face hurdles to digitalization, including operational complexity, costs, and a lack of direct support. Currently, only 24% of European companies with at least ten employees report conducting online sales.