China’s low-cost e-commerce exports, which have surged over the past six years, fell 10.9 per cent in April to US$9.81 billion, according to a report from Inside Retail Asia.
The decline marks a reversal after years of rapid expansion, driven by rising logistics costs and weakened consumer demand linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Shipping rates have spiked, and uncertainty around trade routes has dampened appetite for low-margin goods from Chinese platforms.
The slowdown poses challenges for Chinese e-commerce firms that rely on cross-border sales to markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Analysts expect further headwinds unless geopolitical tensions ease and cost pressures subside.