Austria makes cheap parcels more expensive again

Austria is implementing an additional 2 euro processing fee on small packages from non-EU countries, starting November 1. This measure targets major online retailers and platforms, though the costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers. This fee follows a previous 3 euro customs charge introduced by the European Union on July 1 for similar international shipments. The policy aims to address the massive influx of low-cost goods, with over 5 billion such items entering the EU annually, the vast majority originating from China.

These stricter regulations are already impacting logistics and business models across the continent. Dutch customs reported a 46 percent decrease in small packages arriving from China in July compared to the first half of the year, suggesting that retailers are shifting toward shipping goods in bulk to European hubs instead of individual parcels. Retailers like SHEIN have also faced challenges, reporting a 13.9 percent decline in European revenue for the second quarter as they contend with the new import requirements.