První dopady cla EU ve výši 3 eur na levné zásilky z Číny: Letecká nákladní doprava klesá, Poláci méně nakupují na Temu a Shein

Comprehensive Q3 2026 air cargo statistics are not yet published, but the Liege data and the pre-deadline volume spike strongly suggest a demand contraction .

Poland: Double-Digit User Decline on Chinese Platforms

In Poland, one of the EU's most active markets for Chinese e-commerce, the impact on consumer behaviour has been immediate. The number of Poles using platforms like Temu and AliExpress fell by a double-digit percentage after July 1 . The €3 duty, combined with associated handling fees, raised the final cost of ultra-low-price goods enough to deter a significant share of users .

Consumer advocates have pressed the European Commission to ensure that buyers are not hit with unexpected customs charges at delivery . Reuters reported that Temu and AliExpress include customs duties at checkout (AliExpress calls it an estimate), while Shein does not show a separate charge but says it pays all applicable duties .

How Logistics Operators and Chinese Platforms Are Adapting

Both logistics firms and Chinese e-commerce platforms are already adjusting their operating models in response to the new cost structure.

Chinese platforms moving warehousing inside the EU. To bypass the per-parcel customs duty, Chinese e-commerce companies are moving part of their logistics operations into the EU, placing inventory in EU-based warehouses and fulfilling orders from within the bloc . This "nearshoring" of fulfilment allows goods to be treated as intra-EU shipments, avoiding the €3 duty entirely.

Polish logistics operators concerned about competition. Local Polish logistics firms worry that the relocation of Chinese-owned warehousing into the EU could create new competitive pressure on domestic players .

Customs clearance changes for carriers. The €3 duty is assessed per customs tariff code, not per parcel, meaning a box containing multiple item types can incur multiple €3 charges . Carriers and express operators are updating their customs declaration systems to handle the new flat-fee structure and the voluntary IOSS-like collection scheme (voluntary from July 1, mandatory from November 2026) .

Proposed EU handling fee. The European Commission has proposed an additional Union handling fee of roughly €2 per parcel to cover customs processing costs. If adopted, this would push the total per-parcel surcharge to about €5 .

Key Uncertainty: Complete EU-Wide Data Is Not Yet Available

The available evidence covers the first six weeks of the new regime well for Liege Airport and Poland, but comprehensive EU-wide air cargo demand data for July–August 2026 is not yet published. The Liege Airport 41% decline figure is currently the strongest leading indicator. Broader China-Europe air freight tonnage statistics will likely emerge in September 2026.

The €3 temporary duty is scheduled to remain in place until July 1, 2028, after which the EU Customs Data Hub will become operational and normal customs duties based on each good's tariff classification, origin, and value will apply .