EU Raises Small Parcel Duty to €3: Cross-Border Sellers Should Plan Ahead

Earlier reports suggested that the EU would remove the small parcel VAT exemption, but the final decision increased the fixed duty from €2 to €3. This change means an additional cost of approximately 8 RMB per parcel, which will impact sellers’ profit margins, especially for low-value products.

The EU Council explained that this fixed duty will cover about 93% of e-commerce shipments, essentially affecting almost all types of cross-border small parcels. The measure is intended to address unfair competition, consumer health and safety risks, and potential fraud issues, and will serve as a temporary solution until a permanent arrangement is implemented.

What Sellers Should Do

• Cost planning: Account for the additional €3 duty per parcel in your pricing strategy.
• Shipping strategy: Optimize packaging, consider order consolidation, or select cost-efficient logistics channels to reduce per-item cost.
• IOSS registration: Ensure registration under the EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) system to properly pay VAT and the fixed duty.

At GoodShip56, we specialize in cross-border logistics, including sea freight, air freight, DDP/DDU, Amazon FBA delivery, and door-to-door services. With the upcoming EU regulation, we help sellers plan the most efficient shipping strategies, control costs, and ensure smooth parcel delivery to the EU market.

If you plan to export goods to the EU in 2026, contact us early for professional consultation and logistics solutions to keep costs under control and shipments on schedule.

Summary

• EU small parcel duty rises to €3 starting July 2026
• Approximately 93% of e-commerce parcels will be affected
• GoodShip56 provides complete logistics solutions to help sellers optimize shipping and costs