The e-commerce platform Shopee has announced it will implement a 5% technology service fee for sellers operating in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, effective February 2026. This move comes as competition among digital marketplaces intensifies and operational costs continue to rise across the sector.
The new policy will directly impact merchants, particularly cross-border sellers, who may need to reevaluate their business strategies on the platform.
According to Shopee's official notice, the fee will be automatically deducted from sellers' actual settlement amounts and applies uniformly to all merchants, including those using cross-border direct shipping, Shopee's official warehouses, or third-party logistics services. The company stated the charge is designed to cover platform maintenance, transaction processing, and technical support services.
To mitigate the policy's initial impact, Shopee will offer eligible sellers advertising credits equivalent to up to 5% of their order values during the transition period. These credits can be used for store promotions within the platform's marketing ecosystem.
The service fee will only apply to orders placed and completed on or after February 1, 2026. In cases of partial returns before order completion, the charge will be calculated based on the actual delivered merchandise value. Notably, once an order is finalized and the fee deducted, no refunds will be issued even if subsequent returns occur. Sellers can review detailed fee breakdowns for each transaction in their order management interface.
Industry analysts suggest this development may prompt merchants to reassess their Shopee operational costs, potentially leading to adjustments in pricing structures and marketing approaches. The policy change could also accelerate the adoption of multi-platform selling strategies as businesses seek to diversify risk and maintain competitive positioning in Southeast Asia's rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.