Temu and TikTok Shop are reshaping the shipping market with their respective cross-border logistics strategies. Temu utilizes a low-cost fulfillment network suitable for large items, while TikTok optimizes social e-commerce through a content-driven and flexible warehousing and distribution model. Both have their advantages but face challenges from changing tariffs.
Despite tariff pressures, international air cargo rates remain strong. Recent data shows a global increase in air freight costs, particularly on outbound routes from China. Cancellations of e-commerce flights and holiday impacts have caused fluctuations in cargo volumes, but the market remains generally stable. Businesses must seize opportunities to address challenges.
With the rise of e-commerce, the global air cargo industry is gradually transitioning towards converting passenger aircraft into freighters (P2F). Major airlines are strategically positioning themselves to meet the increasing market demand. This trend is expected to significantly enhance air cargo capacity and provide airlines with more cost-effective and flexible solutions.
After rapidly capturing the North American market with its low-price strategy, Pinduoduo's cross-border platform Temu is now targeting the African e-commerce market. Compared to Europe and North America, the African market offers immense potential but also presents significant challenges. It remains to be seen whether Temu can replicate its success in Africa and compete with rivals like SHEIN. This expansion and potential competition warrant close attention.
Vietnam's e-commerce market holds immense potential, with TikTok Shop emerging as a significant player, creating new opportunities for cross-border sellers. To succeed in Vietnam, a deep understanding of the market is crucial. Developing localized operations, content marketing strategies, and optimizing supply chains are key to unlocking the Vietnamese market's potential. Focusing on these aspects will enable sellers to effectively tap into this rapidly growing market and achieve success.
The air freight market is moving away from past periods of 'crazy price increases' and demonstrating a more mature landscape. Thanks to refined management, e-commerce driven demand, and rational responses from market participants, freight rate increases are stabilizing. Foreign trade enterprises should pay attention to market dynamics, flexibly adjust logistics strategies, choose reliable partners, and utilize digital tools to cope with the opportunities and challenges of the future air freight market.
The Southeast Asian e-commerce market holds immense potential. New sellers face a choice between broad product offerings (mass-market) and refined operations. It's recommended to start with a broad product strategy to quickly gain experience and market understanding. Subsequently, transition to refined operations, focusing on creating best-selling products and improving profit margins. There's no one-size-fits-all approach; continuous learning and adaptation are crucial for success in this dynamic market.
Cross-border e-commerce logistics involves hidden costs like exchange rate fluctuations, policy changes, customs delays, cargo damage/loss, communication issues, and reverse logistics. These often-overlooked costs can erode profits. Sellers should monitor exchange rates and policies, optimize customs clearance, choose reliable partners, and establish a robust reverse logistics system. By focusing on these areas, businesses can effectively control costs and improve profitability in the competitive cross-border e-commerce landscape.
This paper delves into the application of the De Minimis duty exemption strategy in cross-border e-commerce, analyzing its advantages and limitations. It helps e-commerce sellers assess whether their business is suitable for the De Minimis strategy by addressing four key questions: average order value, product customs classification, inventory mix, and customer geographic location. This assessment aims to avoid the risks associated with blindly adopting the strategy and ultimately achieve cost optimization.
The seizure of 160,000 Chinese "surface waybills" by US Customs exposes the gray areas within cross-border e-commerce. Temu platform is taking strong measures to punish violating merchants, upgrade risk control models, restrict logistics operations, and increase security deposits, demonstrating a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud. This incident serves as a wake-up call for cross-border e-commerce practitioners, highlighting that compliance and integrity are the cornerstones of sustainable development.
