Temu, Shein, and AliExpress account for 90% of purchases outside the EU.

Shutterstock photo Temu, Shein, and AliExpress account for 90% of online purchases made outside the European Union. Carina Rodrigues 07 Oct 2026 15:33 SHARE ARTICLE Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy link According to an analysis by ECDB, Temu, Shein, and AliExpress accounted for 90,2% of online spending by European Union consumers on companies located outside the EU by 2025. In total, European consumers spent €55,1 billion on physical products purchased online outside the European Union. Of this, €49,7 billion was captured by the three Chinese platforms. 13,1% of online spending already comes from outside the European Union. E-commerce of physical products generated €421 billion in expenditure in the European Union in 2025. The majority, 86,9%, remained within the EU, but 13,1% was directed to stores and marketplaces in third countries. China clearly dominates this flow. Chinese platforms received 90,2% of non-EU spending, far above the 4,8% for the United States and 4,6% for the United Kingdom. Portugal is among the markets with the highest penetration. The data also shows a high level of adoption of Chinese platforms in Portugal. Around 77% of Portuguese consumers have already made at least one purchase on Chinese e-commerce platforms, above the average of 52% recorded in the Eurozone. Greece has 79% and Spain around 69%, while Germany and France remain below 50%. The main factors explaining this popularity are the low price and the variety of the catalog. Most orders do not exceed 50 euros. Purchases made on these platforms tend to be of low value. Almost two-thirds of orders are worth €25 or less, and around 90% do not exceed €50. One in five consumers still say they make purchases on these platforms at least once a month. The weight of purchases from outside the European Union has almost sextupled since 2020. The growth of e-commerce outside the EU has been rapid. In 2020, only 2,3% of online spending by European consumers was directed to businesses outside the European Union. By 2025, that proportion had reached 13,1%. The ECDB estimates it could rise to 15,2% in 2026. The expansion of these platforms occurs in a context of increasing regulatory pressure on low-value imports. Since July 2026, the European Union has applied a fixed customs duty of three euros to small shipments from third countries, with further changes planned as part of the European customs reform. Advertise with us! Follow us on Other Retail Items "The best technology is the one that works so well that it is almost invisible and unnoticed." Tap2Pay by Worten is now available in all of the brand's stores in Portugal and accounts for between 50% and 60% of eligible transactions in some locations. The… ChatGPT now allows users to virtually try on clothes before buying them. ChatGPT has gained a new feature for virtually trying on clothes and accessories. Users can upload their own photo and see how certain items might look before proceeding… Lidl's international sales grow 8,3% to €102,6 billion. Lidl's international business closed the 2025/26 financial year with sales of €102,6 billion, 8,3% more than the previous year. EBIT increased to €4,4 thousand… You may also like Europastry acquires Alicomer and begins local production in Chile. Europastry has acquired the Chilean company Alicomer, owner of the Pan de Origen brand, in a transaction that reinforces the group's growth strategy in Latin America. The purchase also marks the start of the company's local production in Chile. Read Article Carlsberg buys PepsiCo bottling plants in Georgia and Armenia. The Carlsberg Group will become PepsiCo's bottling partner in Georgia and Armenia, expanding a strategic collaboration that will now cover 17 markets. The group will acquire PepsiCo's existing bottlers in both countries. Read Article Global food prices rise 1,5% in September. The FAO food price index reached 136 points in September, 1,5% higher than in August and 5,8% above the level recorded a year earlier. Cereals, vegetable oils and sugar became more expensive, while meat prices fell and dairy products remained virtually stable. Read Article Real estate investment in Europe grew 4% through September. Real estate investment in Europe is expected to reach €156 billion by September, 4% more than in the same period of 2025, according to preliminary estimates from Savills' European Investment Nowcast Q3 2026. Read Article Vitacress presents new biological references at Fruit Attraction. Vitacress returns to Fruit Attraction, which takes place from October 6th to 8th at IFEMA Madrid, as part of the Portugal Fresh delegation. Read Article Gallo launches Truffle Balsamic Cream The brand presented its new flagship product in Portugal with a campaign aimed at content creators, inspired by Italian gastronomy and culture. Read Article