Shein Stays Rooted in Guangzhou; Temu and DHL Join Forces to Empower SMEs
Latest Dynamics of Logistics & Supply Chains in China's eCom
Here’s our pick for last week’s news:
Shein Stays Rooted in Guangzhou
Temu and DHL Join Forces to Empower SMEs
TikTok Shop Takes on FBA with New EU Logistics
SF Scales Up in Europe with Spanish Warehouse
iMile Sees 52% Surge in Ramadan Orders
China Eastern Airlines Launches Nanjing–Milan Cargo Route
DHL Expands South China Network with Ganzhou Center
Macau-Madrid Cargo Route Takes Off
Guizhou Boosts Air Freight Links to ASEAN
Zhengzhou Launches New UK Cargo Route
Cross-Border E-Commerce Expected to Face 50% Drop Amid Tariff Shock
Shein Stays Rooted in Guangzhou
Amid rumors of a supply chain shift, Guangzhou's Commerce Bureau confirmed that Shein remains firmly committed to its local operations, continuing to expand its supply chain in the city. In Q1 2025, Shein's exports from Guangzhou saw steady growth, debunking claims of relocation. The company has also played a key role in driving employment for millions of people across sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and trade.
Temu and DHL Join Forces to Empower SMEs
DHL and Temu have signed an MoU to deepen their partnership and boost support for SMEs across mature and emerging markets like Eastern Europe and the Middle East. DHL will provide logistics support for Temu's growing local-to-local model in Europe, which allows local sellers to fulfill orders domestically—expected to account for 80% of Temu's European sales. The deal also aims to help European SMEs expand globally, while accelerating Temu's footprint across the EMEA region.
TikTok Shop Takes on FBA with New EU Logistics
TikTok Shop is growing its presence in Europe with the rollout of new logistics services, including Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) and intra-EU delivery solutions. FBT, now live in Spain and Germany, lets local sellers outsource fulfillment, with TikTok managing storage, packing, and delivery—similar to Amazon's FBA. Already active in the UK, the service supports flexible inventory storage for packages under 20kg. TikTok Shop's EU logistics offerings also aim to streamline cross-border sales by cutting customs delays and transit times.
SF Scales Up in Europe with Spanish Warehouse
SF Express has officially opened its Spanish warehouse in Madrid, adding a key hub to its European logistics network. Spanning 30,000 square meters and located near Madrid Airport, the facility offers bonded warehousing services to reduce potential costs for customers. Even before launch, it attracted major clients in the furniture and printer sectors. SF now operates warehouses across the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, serving 28 European countries and beyond.
iMile Sees 52% Surge in Ramadan Orders
With the 2025 Ramadan season wrapping up, the Middle East's e-commerce market saw a major boost. Leading cross-border logistics provider iMile reported a 52% year-on-year increase in order volume during the period, setting a new record. The company achieved a 99% first-dispatch rate within 24 hours and a 91.4% cash-on-delivery acceptance rate, successfully avoiding any seasonal backlogs.
China Eastern Airlines Launches Nanjing–Milan Cargo Route
China Eastern Airlines has launched a new cargo route from Nanjing to Milan via Xi'an, with flight MU5013 recently departing Xianyang Airport carrying 42 e-commerce parcels totaling 420KG. China Eastern Air Logistics plans to further streamline customs procedures and boost transport efficiency to support trade between China and Europe under the Belt and Road Initiative.
DHL Expands South China Network with Ganzhou Center
On April 8, DHL Express opened its Ganzhou Service Center, becoming the first international courier to establish operations in the city. Located in the south of Jiangxi Province, the center supports the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area's electronics and information industries with faster response times and competitive cut-off windows. Shipments are processed locally before being routed through Guangzhou and DHL's Hong Kong hub for global export.
Macau-Madrid Cargo Route Takes Off
On April 3, an Ethiopian Airlines B777F cargo flight departed Macau for Madrid, carrying a full load of e-commerce goods. The new route, operating twice weekly with 400 tons of capacity, delivers made-in-China products like toys, electronics, furniture, and apparel to Europe. Some shipments will be re-exported to South America, while return flights bring fresh produce, flowers, and seafood for Macau.
Guizhou Boosts Air Freight Links to ASEAN
On April 2, Tianjin Air Cargo launched a new Guiyang–Bangkok cargo route operated by a B737-800 freighter, with three weekly flights and potential expansion based on demand. This marks Guizhou Province's second direct cargo link to Southeast Asia, following the launch of routes from Guiyang to Yangon and Dhaka in February.
Zhengzhou Launches New UK Cargo Route
On April 4, a Boeing 747-400F freighter carrying 95 tons of cross-border e-commerce goods departed from Zhengzhou, with a stop in Astana before landing at East Midlands Airport in the UK, marking the launch of the "Zhengzhou–Derby(England)" cargo route. Operated by China Gate Logistics and UK-based One Air, the route is part of a broader expansion, with new Zhengzhou flights this year to Istanbul, Zurich, Liège, Madrid, and Budapest—boosting the city's global e-commerce logistics network.
Cross-Border E-Commerce Expected to Face 50% Drop Amid Tariff Shock
New U.S. tariffs are disrupting Asia-to-U.S. trade, with top freight forwarders reporting that 35–40% of shipments from China and over 30% from Vietnam have been halted. Many exporters are rushing to ship before the tariffs take effect on April 9, while others are pausing shipments. North China's low-value exports—like steel, aluminum, chemicals, and tires—are among the hardest hit, while exporters in East and South China are either accelerating deliveries or suspending bookings. The end of the $800 duty-free exemption is also pressuring cross-border e-commerce, with shipment volumes expected to plunge by up to 50%.