90% of Temu's Users Now Outside the U.S. in Q2; POP MART to Expand Overseas Store Count by 80% in 2025
Latest news and analysis on China’s global e-sellers
Here’s our pick for last week’s news:
Trump Poised to Delay TikTok Ban Again
TikTok Shop Eyes Poland as Next EU Push
90% of Temu's Users Now Outside the U.S. in Q2
Shein Hands Aussie Operations to Singapore Unit
TikTok Shop Japan Opens Self-Registration for Overseas Sellers
AliExpress Opens to Polish Sellers in Local Push
Smart Home Maker SwitchBot Files for Hong Kong IPO
ASD Robotics Bets on Vietnam With $20M Expansion Plan
POP MART to Expand Overseas Store Count by 80% in 2025
US Retailers Demand Chinese Suppliers Cover Up to Two-Thirds of Tariffs
China's Export Growth Slows in May as U.S. Shipments Slide
Trump Poised to Delay TikTok Ban Again
President Trump is reportedly preparing to extend the TikTok ban deadline for a third time as the White House and China gear up for critical trade negotiations this week. The current deadline—mandating TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations—expires June 19, but sources say Trump is willing to delay enforcement if it serves as leverage in the talks. Meanwhile, a U.S. consortium led by Oracle aims to take majority control of TikTok's U.S. business, though the deal has stalled amid escalating tariffs and trade tensions. (New York Post)
TikTok Shop Eyes Poland as Next EU Push
TikTok plans to expand its e-commerce arm, TikTok Shop, into the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and Poland—poised to make Poland its seventh European market. While the company has wrapped up this year's expansion roadmap, new country launches aren't expected before 2026. Meanwhile, adoption in Germany remains sluggish. Since its March 31 debut, just 2.5% of German consumers have made a purchase via TikTok Shop, despite one-third having heard of it, according to data from media agency OMD. (CYZONE)
90% of Temu's Users Now Outside the U.S. in Q2
Temu's daily U.S. users tumbled 48% in May from March, according to Sensor Tower, as the Chinese e-commerce giant faces fallout from the end of the de minimis tariff exemption. Trump's move has forced Temu to cut U.S. ad spending and overhaul its shipping model, now requiring sellers to handle customs and tariffs. Engagement has slumped, and parent company PDD missed Q1 growth targets amid merchant pressure. While U.S. traction fades, Temu is gaining ground abroad—non-U.S. users now make up 90% of its 405 million global base in Q2, with EU growth surging over 60% in May and France nearly doubling. (Reuters & Consumer Edge)
Shein Hands Aussie Operations to Singapore Unit
Shein has established a new Singapore-based entity, Wonderflow Support, to operate its Australian marketplace as part of an internal restructuring. Effective April 30, Wonderflow became the sole operator of Shein's Australian website and app, taking over responsibility for third-party sellers and transactions, the company said. (The Australian Financial Review)
TikTok Shop Japan Opens Self-Registration for Overseas Sellers
TikTok Shop Japan has opened self-registration for its cross-border POP(self-operated) store, letting overseas sellers with inventory in Japanese warehouses join without an invitation starting June 3. Merchants shipping directly from China still require platform approval. Each store must choose a shipping method—either local fulfillment or cross-border, not both. Currently, the platform accepts corporate applicants registered in mainland China and Hong Kong, excluding sole proprietors. Japanese-registered businesses must apply through a platform contact. (ebrun)
AliExpress Opens to Polish Sellers in Local Push
AliExpress officially opened its platform to Polish merchants on June 4, marking a major push to localize operations in Central Europe. While several well-known Polish companies had already quietly joined over the past year, the full rollout aims to boost local seller participation and drive platform growth. The recruitment focus spans electronics, home appliances, auto parts, toys, pet supplies, and sporting goods. AliExpress is also stepping up efforts to attract local sellers in the U.S. and Germany as part of its broader strategy to expand overseas operations beyond China. (Sina)
Smart Home Maker SwitchBot Files for Hong Kong IPO
Shenzhen-based smart home robotics firm SwitchBot filed for a mainboard IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 8, 2025. Founded in 2015, the company has built an AI-driven product ecosystem spanning seven categories, from home automation and energy management to elderly care and security. SwitchBot products are now sold in over 90 markets and more than 2,000 stores globally, with Japan, Europe, and North America contributing over 95% of revenue from 2022 to 2024. Fueled by direct-to-consumer growth and strong Amazon sales—accounting for 64.2% of 2024 revenue—SwitchBot saw its DTC share rise to nearly 50%, with a 73.3% compound annual growth rate over the past two years. (SwitchBot)
ASD Robotics Bets on Vietnam With $20M Expansion Plan
ASD Robotics announced on June 3 it plans to invest up to RMB 150 million (about $20.8 million) in Vietnam to establish a new overseas hub for cookware, small appliances, and industrial robot R&D and manufacturing. The investment will cover a local subsidiary, leased factory space, and production lines, though the final amount may vary with execution. In 2024, overseas sales jumped nearly 40% YoY to RMB 1.34 billion (about $186 million), accounting for 45.8% of the total. The company said the Vietnam project will strengthen its international supply chain and help buffer against global economic volatility. (ASD Robotics)
POP MART to Expand Overseas Store Count by 80% in 2025
POP MART plans to grow its overseas store count to 230 by the end of 2025, up 80% from last year, as global demand for its hit character LABUBU drives record growth. Fueled by surging demand, revenue soared to RMB 13 billion (about $1.8 billion) in FY2024, more than doubling YoY, while net profit nearly tripled to RMB 3.1 billion (about $431 million). Its market cap has skyrocketed to about HK$250 billion (about $32 billion), surpassing Japan's Sanrio. Sinolink Securities expects POP MART's overseas profit to surpass domestic earnings in 2025. To support global growth, the company began manufacturing in Vietnam in 2024, moving beyond its traditional base in Guangdong. (CYZONE)
US Retailers Demand Chinese Suppliers Cover Up to Two-Thirds of Tariffs
U.S. retail giants including Walmart, Target, Nike, Puma, and Adidas are urging their Chinese and Southeast Asian suppliers to absorb 50% to 66% of the hefty U.S. import tariffs amid growing political pressure for companies to cover costs domestically. Negotiations remain unresolved as many suppliers resist due to financial burdens, while some brands are already adjusting supply chains and considering price increases. The ongoing talks reflect retailers' struggle to manage rising costs without passing them fully onto consumers. (South China Morning Post)
China's Export Growth Slows in May as U.S. Shipments Slide
China's exports rose 4.8% in May from a year earlier, missing expectations and marking a slowdown from April's 8.1% surge. Exports to the U.S. fell nearly 10% to $28.8 billion, while imports from the U.S. dropped 7.4% to $10.8 billion. Overall imports declined 3.4%, widening China's trade surplus to $103.2 billion. The weaker figures suggest front-loaded orders ahead of expected tariff hikes, with some duties already in effect. Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese officials are holding a fresh round of trade talks in London.
That’s impressive growth for Temu https://temu.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html —90% of users outside the U.S. shows how fast they’re expanding globally. It’s interesting to see how platforms like this are reshaping online shopping habits. And with POP MART planning such a big overseas push, 2025 is looking like a huge year for international retail. Definitely keeping an eye on both!