Ecommerce News

UK Retailers Warn Delay on Low-Value Import Reform Could Favor China E-commerce Parcels

By JiuFang Logistics
June 15, 2026

What Happened

UK retailers are warning that a delayed reform of the country’s low-value import rules could keep giving overseas e-commerce sellers an advantage. The Times reported on June 15 that retailers are concerned the UK could become a destination for more low-cost imported goods while reform is delayed.

The Current UK Low-Value Import Rule

Under current UK rules, commercial imports valued at £135 or less can claim customs duty relief. The UK government has announced that this relief will be removed, with new customs arrangements expected to take effect by March 2029 at the latest.

The government says the reform is needed because low-value import volumes have increased significantly and the current rules no longer reflect the scale of modern e-commerce trade.

Why It Matters for China E-commerce Sellers

The issue directly affects China-origin direct-to-consumer parcels. Reuters reported in May that UK retailers had asked the government to impose an urgent £2.60 customs duty on low-value overseas parcels, arguing that platforms such as Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Amazon Haul benefit from the current customs waiver on parcels worth less than £135.

For China-based sellers, the delay means the UK market may remain attractive for direct parcel shipping in the short term. But sellers should prepare for future changes to customs data, duties, parcel fees and marketplace compliance.

What Shippers Should Watch

Sellers shipping from China to the UK should monitor the final reform plan, review product-level customs classifications, and compare direct parcel shipping with bulk freight to UK warehouses. As customs rules tighten in the U.S., EU and UK, overseas warehousing may become more important for sellers that need faster delivery and more predictable landed costs.

 
 

Walmart Opens Walmart International Shipping to Mexico

By JiuFang Logistics
June 12, 2026

What Walmart Announced

Walmart opened Walmart.com to customers in Mexico on June 11, 2026, allowing them to shop hundreds of thousands of eligible items across categories including apparel, home and electronics.

Walmart said Mexico is the first market in this international expansion and that additional markets are planned.

How Shipping and Customs Work

Orders are delivered through the same network that serves customers in the United States. International carriers handle shipping and customs clearance.

Estimated duties, taxes and fees are displayed at checkout. Walmart is also offering free shipping on eligible orders of USD 35 or more during the initial promotion, although taxes and duties still apply.

What It Means for China-Based Sellers

The expansion gives eligible Walmart Marketplace products access to additional cross-border demand. China-based sellers using Walmart Fulfillment Services should review whether their inventory and listings qualify for sales to customers in Mexico.

Walmart Cross Border: Imports already supports FCL and LCL shipments from China to U.S. fulfillment centers. Inventory positioned in WFS can support faster delivery than shipping individual orders directly from China.

What Sellers Should Review

Sellers should verify product eligibility, listing content, inventory availability, duties and taxes, returns handling and fulfillment coverage before targeting the new market.

For inventory moving from China, sellers should compare ocean freight, consolidated shipping and U.S. warehouse replenishment based on expected demand and delivery targets.

 
 

Amazon Adds AI Shopping Tools Ahead of Prime Day 2026

By JiuFang Logistics
June 11, 2026

What Amazon Announced

Amazon introduced new shopping tools on June 10 ahead of Prime Day 2026, which runs from June 23 through June 26. The features are designed to help shoppers find, compare and automatically purchase discounted products.

New Prime Day Shopping Tools

Alexa for Shopping can create personalized Prime Day deal guides, show product price history and notify shoppers when selected items reach a target price. Customers can also enable automatic purchasing when a product falls to that price.

Amazon is also promoting deal alerts, Lists, Buy Again, Amazon Lens visual search, size recommendations and AI-generated Fit Review Highlights during the event.

What It Means for China-Based Sellers

For sellers exporting from China, easier price comparison and automated deal tracking increase the importance of competitive pricing and accurate promotional planning. Products with limited inventory or delayed replenishment may miss demand generated by deal alerts and personalized shopping recommendations.

Inventory and Fulfillment Priorities

China-based Amazon sellers should confirm that promotional inventory is available and buyable before the event. Urgent replenishment may require air freight, while larger restocking volumes may be better suited to ocean freight or inventory already positioned in an overseas warehouse.

Sellers should also review listing prices, deal settings, FBA inbound status and backup fulfillment options before Prime Day begins.

 
 

Amazon Prime Day Deadline Raises Urgency for China-Origin FBA Replenishment

By JiuFang Logistics
June 10, 2026

What Happened

Amazon’s Prime Day 2026 readiness schedule listed June 9 as the deal scheduling deadline for Prime-Exclusive Best Deals and Lightning Deals. The deadline is important for sellers that rely on inventory already in Amazon’s fulfillment network.

Why It Matters for China Sellers

For sellers sourcing from China, Prime Day preparation depends on more than deal scheduling. Inventory must be produced, packed, shipped, cleared and received into fulfillment before promotional demand begins. Any late shipment can limit deal eligibility, suppress buyable inventory or force sellers into higher-cost replenishment options.

Impact on FBA Shipping from China

The Prime Day deadline comes as China-origin e-commerce shipping remains under cost pressure. Reuters reported that China-based platforms and sellers using direct air shipment have been affected by higher jet fuel and logistics costs, with some shifting toward bulk shipping and overseas warehousing.

For Amazon FBA sellers, this reinforces the need to separate urgent inventory from bulk replenishment. Urgent SKUs may require air freight, while larger replenishment volumes may be better suited to ocean freight, consolidated shipping or pre-positioned overseas warehouse inventory.

What Sellers Should Do Now

Sellers should review available FBA inventory, check inbound shipment status, confirm whether promotional SKUs are buyable, and prepare backup fulfillment plans for late-arriving stock. For China-origin goods, sellers should also update landed-cost calculations before choosing between air, ocean and warehouse-based replenishment.

 
 

Rising Air Freight Costs Pressure China E-commerce Shipping Model

By JiuFang Logistics
June 8, 2026

What Happened

China’s low-cost cross-border e-commerce export model is facing pressure as air shipping costs rise and demand from Western consumers softens, according to Reuters. The report focused on platforms and sellers that rely on direct air shipment from Chinese factories to overseas shoppers.

Why Air Shipping Costs Are Rising

Reuters reported that logistics costs have increased as jet fuel prices and air cargo expenses remain elevated. DHL Express has also published high fuel surcharge levels for early June, including export and import surcharges for the week of June 8-14, 2026.

IATA said Middle East disruptions and high fuel prices have sharply reduced the airline industry’s 2026 profitability outlook, adding cost pressure across passenger and cargo aviation networks.

Impact on China E-commerce Exports

Reuters reported that China’s low-cost e-commerce exports fell 10.9% in April 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year-on-year monthly decline. Higher logistics costs are pushing some sellers to raise prices, while platforms are reassessing direct-from-China air shipment for low-value goods.

The shift is especially relevant for sellers serving the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, where demand sensitivity, delivery speed and landed cost all affect online conversion.

What Sellers Should Consider

Sellers shipping from China should review whether every order needs direct air delivery. For slower-moving or bulk inventory, ocean freight, consolidated air freight, overseas warehousing and local fulfillment may reduce per-unit logistics cost.

For urgent inventory, air freight remains useful, but sellers should calculate fuel surcharges, product margin and expected delivery time before confirming shipment plans.

 
 

Air or Ocean Freight from China: How Importers Should Decide During a Rate Spike

By JiuFang Logistics
June 5, 2026

Market Context

Container shipping costs moved sharply higher in early June. Drewry reported a 23% weekly rise in its World Container Index on June 4, driven by stronger Transpacific and Asia-Europe spot rates.

Air freight also remains exposed to operating-cost pressure. Reuters reported that airline leaders were preparing to discuss fuel shocks, route detours and rising costs at the IATA annual summit. IATA’s April 2026 air cargo data also showed international cargo traffic expanded 4.0% year on year, led by Asia-Pacific carriers.

When Ocean Freight Still Makes Sense

Ocean freight remains the better choice for heavy, bulky or lower-margin goods when the delivery deadline allows a longer transit time. It is also suitable for full-container replenishment, palletized inventory and stable Amazon FBA or warehouse restocking plans.

When Air Freight Is Worth the Cost

Air freight is usually better for urgent replenishment, high-value goods, small-volume shipments, seasonal products and products at risk of stockout. The higher freight cost may be justified if a delay would cause lost sales, marketplace penalties or missed launch windows.

A Hybrid Strategy for E-commerce Sellers

Many sellers should avoid choosing only one mode. A practical approach is to send urgent inventory by air while moving the larger replenishment volume by ocean. This keeps listings active while controlling the total logistics cost.

Booking Checklist

  • Confirm cargo weight, volume and carton count.
  • Check the required delivery date and stockout risk.
  • Compare air freight, LCL and FCL landed costs.
  • Confirm Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS or private warehouse delivery requirements.
  • Book space earlier when spot rates and capacity are moving quickly.
 
 

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