EU Adds €2 Fee on Low-Value Parcels
The new charge applies per item from November 1, 2026, on top of a €3 charge in place since July 1.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Retail
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The European Union is imposing an additional €2 handling fee on each separate item in low-value parcels starting November 1, 2026. It follows a €3 charge on such parcels that took effect July 1, 2026.
Why it matters
The fee targets a model of low-value, non-compliant e-commerce imports that has grown rapidly, with around 5.8 billion parcels worth less than €150 entering the EU in 2025, up 26% from 2024. The Commission estimates most of these parcels were undervalued to avoid customs duties.
The European Commission projects the low-value parcel charges could generate nearly €6 billion a year for the EU budget from 2028 to 2034, a figure that already accounts for an expected fall in parcel volumes. Member states currently retain 25% of customs fees, and the Commission expects 90% of the new revenue to go to EU coffers and 10% to member states, though that split may change in budget talks.
The players
European Commission
The executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation and estimating the revenue impact of the new parcel charges.
Shein
A fast-fashion online retailer founded in China that earns about a third of its revenue in Europe and has expanded warehousing in Poland.
Amazon
The U.S.-based global e-commerce company, which says 97% of the products it sells in the EU are fulfilled from warehouses within the bloc.
AliExpress
The online marketplace owned by Alibaba Group, which is expanding local warehousing in response to the EU parcel fees.
The details
The €2 handling fee applies to each separate item in a low-value shipment, adding to the €3 charge already imposed since July 1. Amazon says 97% of the products it sells in the EU are fulfilled from warehouses within the bloc, while AliExpress is expanding local warehousing in response to the fees.
Timeline
July 1, 2026: The EU's €3 charge on low-value parcels took effect.
November 1, 2026: The additional €2 handling fee per item takes effect.
2028–2034: The Commission projects nearly €6 billion in annual revenue during this budget period.
Market Landscape
The fees extend the EU's decision last year to scrap duty-free treatment for low-value online orders, the same policy direction the United States followed. The charges are aimed at marketplaces competing on price against EU-based retailers, reshaping how cross-border e-commerce platforms set their pricing and warehousing strategies.
Shoppers buying low-value items from non-EU online sellers will pay an extra €2 per item from November 1, 2026, on top of the €3 charge already in place. Those costs may be passed on to buyers through higher prices or reduced cross-border shipping options.
The takeaway
Consumers ordering low-value goods from overseas platforms should expect higher costs per item as the EU's new fee structure takes hold. Watching how retailers respond, including through local warehousing, will show how much of the charge reaches shoppers.
What happens next
The additional €2 handling fee per item takes effect on November 1, 2026, and the revenue split between the EU and member states is still being negotiated for the 2028–2034 budget.
Further reading
For more on how these changes affect online sellers, see Retail coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Textileexcellence.
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