Shein Cuts Shipping Costs with New Subsidy Program; Temu Traffic Soars After Catch's Exit in Australia
Latest news and analysis on China’s global e-sellers
Here’s our pick for last week’s news:
Shein Cuts Shipping Costs with New Subsidy Program
Temu Lands in Türkiye with 1-Day Delivery Goal
Temu Traffic Soars After Catch's Exit in Australia
AliExpress to Launch Celeb Shop in Korea
TikTok Shop and Tokopedia Integrate to Streamline E-Commerce
Shein Slips Behind Aussie Rivals Despite Traffic Surge
Alibaba.com Orders Jump 42% Since June
Jumia Taps China Ties to Counter Temu and Shein
Smart Robotics Firm Mammotion Enters Pool Market
China's E-Commerce Exports Surge 17% in 2024
Shein Cuts Shipping Costs with New Subsidy Program
Shein recently rolled out a key feature offering shipping subsidies for non-free-shipping orders under its semi-managed model, cutting logistics costs for overseas sellers. Buyers pay no shipping if their order qualifies for free shipping; otherwise, Shein subsidizes the seller's shipping fees. The company is also doubling down on Europe, where its semi-managed model covers major markets like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Investments include expanding local teams, boosting marketing, partnering with regional supply chains, and opening design centers to tap local talents. (CYZONE)
Temu Lands in Türkiye with 1-Day Delivery Goal
Temu has officially launched in Türkiye, opening a local office and promising one-day delivery through a new logistics hub in Istanbul. The PDD Holdings-owned platform also shifted its billing from Dublin to Türkiye, signaling long-term ambitions despite mounting regulatory pressure. As Ankara tightens rules on low-cost imports—including plans to lower the duty-free threshold—Temu's move tests how far discount e-commerce can push in a more restrictive trade environment. (Daily Sabah)
Temu Traffic Soars After Catch's Exit in Australia
Temu is swiftly filling the void left by Catch's shutdown, with Australian web traffic to the discount giant jumping 22% in May, according to Pattern. As Catch closed on April 30 after years of losses, budget-focused shoppers appear to be flocking to Temu, now Australia's fastest-growing website and the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2024. Analysts say Temu has capitalized on Catch's exit and is now courting local sellers, intensifying competition with Amazon and eBay. Meanwhile, Target, Kogan, and Big W are also benefiting from the reshuffling of online shopping habits. (SmartCompany)
AliExpress to Launch Celeb Shop in Korea
AliExpress is making a bold play for K-fashion fans with the launch of Celeb Shop, a social commerce initiative that recruits Korean influencers to model, style, and promote curated fashion from Seoul's Dongdaemun market. Set to debut next month in beta, the platform blends influencer-driven content with e-commerce, targeting Gen Z and millennial shoppers across Korea, the U.S., Japan, France, and Spain. While influencers provide the star power, AliExpress and its Korean partners will handle fulfillment, betting on viral style to fuel global demand for Korean fashion. (The Korea Times)
TikTok Shop and Tokopedia Integrate to Streamline E-Commerce
Tokopedia and TikTok Shop have officially launched an integrated Seller Center, giving Indonesian sellers a single dashboard to manage both platforms. The integration streamlines inventory sync, reduces errors, and expands sellers' access to TikTok's huge audience alongside Tokopedia's local market. Early users report faster deliveries and sales jumps, with some seeing GMV grow by over 50% shortly within weeks. This partnership combines TikTok's live shopping power with Tokopedia's established ecosystem, reshaping Indonesia's e-commerce landscape. (Tokopedia)
Shein Slips Behind Aussie Rivals Despite Traffic Surge
Shein's Australian traffic rebounded sharply in May, rising over 20% to 6.1 million visits, but the global fast fashion giant was still edged out by local heavyweights The Iconic and David Jones, both surpassing 8.6 million visits, according to Semrush. Myer led the pack with 15.7 million visits. Shein's global traffic hit 244 million in May, up from 210 million in April; its YoY growth in Australia (nearly 70%) far outpaces its global rate of 32%. Analysts point to rising local loyalty, delivery confidence, and shifting brand perception as possible reasons for Shein's slip behind domestic rivals, even it remains a global force under growing regulatory scrutiny. (Ragtrader)
Alibaba.com Orders Jump 42% Since June
Since June, Alibaba.com has seen orders surge 42% YoY, with GMV up nearly 30%. The U.S. market rebounded to 25% growth, fueled by early Christmas stocking, while Europe sustained rapid gains. Typically a slow month for trade, June's "Foreign 618" campaign sparked a mid-year boost. To capitalize on rising U.S. demand, Alibaba.com is extending the "Foreign 618" event through August, with no registration barriers, allowing new sellers to join and capture orders during the post-tariff cut window. (36Kr)
Jumia Taps China Ties to Counter Temu and Shein
Facing rising pressure from Temu and Shein, Africa's Jumia is revamping its strategy to defend market share and rebuild investor trust. CEO Francis Dufay told the Financial Times the company is countering China's low-cost, fast-shipping playbook by partnering directly with Chinese merchants while tailoring offerings for African consumers. Jumia has assembled a 70-person team in Shenzhen to onboard sellers, with goods from China now making up a third of its sales volume. As Asian manufacturers seek new markets amid global tariff shifts, Jumia is positioning itself as the go-to gateway into Africa, even as it works toward break-even by 2027. (Nairametrics)
Smart Robotics Firm Mammotion Enters Pool Market
Mammotion is branching out with its first pool cleaning robot, the SPINO E1, now available for pre-order in Europe, North America, and Australia. Founded in 2016 in Shenzhen, the smart robotics firm is known for its successful LUBA robotic lawn mowers, which raised over $1 million on the first day of crowdfunding. With more than 400 employees and subsidiaries in Germany and North America, Mammotion is expanding its global footprint with this new product line. (Mammotion)
China's E-Commerce Exports Surge 17% in 2024
China's cross-border e-commerce trade surged 14% in 2024 to RMB 2.71 trillion (about $376 billion), outpacing overall goods trade growth by 9 percentage points. Exports rose 16.9% to RMB 2.15 trillion (about $299 billion), accounting for 8.5% of total exports, while imports climbed 4.1% to RMB 555.25 billion (about $77 billion), 3% of the country's total imports. Cross-border e-commerce now represents 6.2% of China's total goods trade. (CCTV)