EU import duty on cheap Chinese parcels: 46% drop in packages, €134 million in revenue — and a new fee is coming

Since July 1, 2026, every parcel from outside the EU valued under €150 has been subject to an additional €3 import duty. The result? A 46% drop in the number of individual packages entering the Netherlands from China, according to figures from Dutch Customs shared by State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg during a parliamentary debate on September 2.

For internationals in the Netherlands who regularly order from Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein, AliExpress or Temu, the change is tangible. That €3 surcharge — applied per package, not per order — has made small, frequent purchases significantly less attractive. But the drop in parcel volume doesn't mean Chinese goods have disappeared. Instead, online retailers are adapting.

What's happening to the parcels?

Customs recorded a 46% decline in individual parcels from China in July compared to before the duty took effect. Eerenberg attributed the shift partly to retailers moving to bulk imports: instead of shipping thousands of tiny packages directly to consumers, companies are now sending larger consignments to European distribution centres and dispatching them from within the EU. This change makes it easier for Customs to inspect goods for safety and labelling compliance — a key goal of the policy.

“Customs is having to process an endless stream of small parcels,” Eerenberg said during the debate. He welcomed the drop for that reason alone. The levy also generated €134 million in customs duties in July alone, of which roughly a quarter goes to the Dutch treasury. The rest flows to the EU budget.

What does this mean for consumers?

If you're ordering a €10 phone case from China, you now pay €3 in import duty on top — a 30% surcharge. For a €50 dress, the duty is still €3, a more manageable 6% increase. But the real sting may come in November, when the EU plans to introduce a separate handling fee (the exact amount hasn't been announced yet) for shipments under €150. That fee will be collected by Customs to fund additional supervision of incoming parcels.

In practice, this means ordering from outside the EU will become more expensive and potentially slower. Retailers that shift to European warehouses may offer faster delivery and avoid the duty altogether — but only if they hold stock inside the bloc. For consumers, the choice increasingly becomes: pay the EU surcharge, or buy from a European-based seller.

A fairer playing field?

The EU's stated aim was twofold: to level the playing field for European businesses, which have long complained about the tax advantage of cheap Chinese imports, and to improve product safety oversight. Small parcels from China have historically been difficult to inspect individually. By forcing retailers to bulk-import, Customs gains better access to check whether products meet EU safety standards.

Whether the levy has actually improved safety oversight is still an open question. Eerenberg noted that Customs now has a better chance to verify whether contents match labels. But the real test will come after the handling fee is introduced, when more resources are dedicated to inspections.

The bigger picture

The 46% drop is significant, but it may be temporary. If Chinese retailers fully adapt by establishing European distribution hubs — as some have already started doing — the volume of parcels from outside the EU could stabilise at a lower level, while the overall flow of Chinese goods into Europe continues, just through different channels.

For now, the message for internationals in the Netherlands is clear: if you order from China, expect to pay extra. And from November, expect another fee on top. The golden age of duty-free, ultra-cheap Chinese imports is over.

Reporting by ANP, via NL Times.