How Ecommerce Order Fulfilment Works: From Checkout to Delivery for Growing DTC Brands

If you run an ecommerce brand, fulfilment is usually one of your biggest controllable costs after the product itself. It is also one of the easiest costs to underestimate.

3PL costs are the fees you pay a third-party logistics provider to receive, store, pick, pack, and ship your orders. But there is no single flat number. What you pay depends on your product type, order volume, storage needs, delivery speed, and where your stock is held before it ships.

For Australian ecommerce brands that source or manufacture products in China, location can make a major difference. The biggest cost lever is often not the pick-and-pack fee. It is how many times your stock has to move before it reaches the customer.

This blog breaks down what 3PL costs usually include, what affects 3PL pricing, and why China-based fulfilment can be a more practical option for brands already manufacturing in China.

What Are 3PL Costs?

3PL costs are what you pay a third-party logistics provider to manage fulfilment for your brand.

In practice, this can include receiving inventory, storing stock, picking and packing orders, packaging materials, shipping, last-mile delivery, returns processing, and any special handling your products need.

Most 3PL providers do not charge one simple all-in fee. Instead, 3PL pricing is usually split across several line items. That matters because two providers can give you a similar “per order” rate, but the final monthly bill can look very different once storage, inbound handling, returns, and exception fees are added.

So the better question is not just, “What is your pick-and-pack rate?” It is, “What exactly am I being charged for, and how is each cost calculated?”

For an ecommerce brand, 3PL costs are not just an admin expense. They directly affect your margin, delivery promise, and ability to scale into new markets.

What Factors Influence 3PL Pricing?

3PL pricing usually depends on how much space, labour, handling, and distance your fulfilment setup requires. The same 3PL provider can quote two brands very differently depending on how their products move, how much stock they hold, and where their customers are.

Order volume

Higher and more consistent order volume can sometimes reduce your per-order cost because the 3PL provider can plan labour more efficiently. However, spiky order volume can be harder to manage. This is common for drop-led brands, seasonal campaigns, and product launches. When order volume rises sharply, providers may need extra labour, faster processing, or temporary capacity, which can affect pricing.

Product size and weight

Larger or heavier products cost more to store and more to ship. Apparel and accessories are usually lighter than many other product categories, which can help keep shipping costs more manageable. But bulky packaging, gift boxes, or oversized parcels can still increase both storage and freight costs.

SKU count and product variants

A brand with 30 simple SKUs is easier to manage than a brand selling the same style across multiple sizes, colours, and bundles. More variants mean more storage locations, more pick complexity, and more room for the wrong item to be packed. For fashion brands, this matters because size and colour mistakes can quickly turn into returns, refunds, and customer complaints.

Storage time

Fast-moving stock is usually cheaper to hold. Slow-moving stock costs more because you keep paying for the space it occupies. This is where 3PL warehouse costs can quietly eat into your margin, especially if you over-order inventory before demand is proven.

Destination and delivery speed

Where you ship to, and how fast you want the parcel delivered, will affect your final cost.

A parcel shipped within Australia from a local warehouse has one cost structure. A parcel shipped from China to Australia, the UK, or Europe has another. The right option depends on where your stock starts, where your customers are, and how quickly orders need to arrive.

Special handling

Custom packaging, inserts, kitting, branded unboxing, quality checks, and relabelling can all add value. But they also add labour. That does not mean you should avoid them. For many brands, these services protect the customer experience and reduce fulfilment mistakes. The key is making sure these costs are clearly priced before you commit.

For a clearer look at how orders move from checkout to doorstep, read our blog: How Ecommerce Order Fulfilment Works: From Checkout to Delivery for Growing DTC Brands

Common 3PL Cost Components Ecommerce Brands Should Know

Most 3PL services are billed across a similar set of cost components. Knowing each one makes it much easier to compare quotes properly.

Onboarding and integration

Some 3PL providers charge a setup fee to create your account, connect your ecommerce store, and configure your fulfilment rules. Others may include onboarding as part of the service. Before choosing a 3PL provider, check whether going live carries an upfront cost.

Receiving or inbound

Receiving is the cost of unloading, counting, scanning, and booking your stock into the warehouse when it arrives. This may be charged per unit, per carton, per pallet, or by time. If your provider offers inbound quality checks, those may also sit under this cost category.

Storage

Storage is the cost of keeping your inventory in the warehouse. It may be billed by pallet, shelf, bin, cubic metre, or another storage measure. This is usually charged weekly or monthly. For ecommerce brands, storage can become expensive when stock does not sell through quickly. The longer inventory sits, the more it costs you before it has generated revenue.

Pick and pack

Pick and pack is the core per-order fulfilment fee. It covers the labour required to pick items from storage, pack them, and prepare the parcel for dispatch. Many providers charge a base rate for the first item, then a smaller fee for each additional item in the same order.

Packaging materials

Boxes, mailers, tissue paper, inserts, tape, stickers, and other packaging materials may be charged separately. Some providers bundle basic packaging into the pick-and-pack fee. Others charge materials as a separate line item. For brands with custom packaging or branded unboxing requirements, this is worth checking carefully.

Shipping and last-mile delivery

Shipping is usually the largest line item in a 3PL bill. This includes the cost of moving the parcel from the warehouse to the customer. It is affected by parcel weight, destination, carrier, delivery speed, and route. For Australian ecommerce brands, this is also where fulfilment location becomes important. Shipping from a local warehouse and shipping direct from China create different cost structures.

Returns processing

Returns processing covers the cost of receiving returned products, checking their condition, restocking sellable items, or disposing of damaged stock. This cost is easy to overlook at the start, but it can become important as order volume grows.

Exception and surcharge fees

Exception fees include anything outside the standard fulfilment flow. This can include address corrections, redelivery, failed delivery attempts, oversized parcels, remote-area delivery, damaged packaging, urgent changes, or peak-season surcharges.

This is where many brands get frustrated. The issue is not always the fee itself. It is being charged without a clear explanation or approval. A good 3PL provider should make these charges visible before they become a surprise on your invoice.

To understand how inventory, warehouse processes, and fulfilment visibility work together, read our latest blog: What Is Warehouse Management? A Guide to Efficient Fulfilment for DTC Brands

How Fulfilment Location Affects Overall Cost

Where your stock sits changes almost every cost component. That is why fulfilment location can affect your total cost more than the headline per-order rate. For many Australian ecommerce brands, the traditional setup looks like this: Products are manufactured in China. Then stock is shipped in bulk to Australia by sea. Once it arrives, it goes through port handling, customs, transport, warehouse receiving, storage, pick and pack, and domestic delivery.

That means you pay to move stock into Australia before you know exactly what will sell.

You may also pay import duties, GST, storage, and local warehouse fees on inventory that has not yet generated revenue. If a size, colour, or product line sells slowly, that stock is now sitting in a local warehouse, costing you money each month.

Then the local 3PL fees begin. On top of the freight and duty already paid to land the goods, an Australian 3PL may charge for storage, receiving, pick and pack, packaging, domestic shipping, returns, and exceptions. None of this includes the cost of getting the stock to Australia in the first place.

In other words, you are paying twice. First, to move the goods across the world in bulk. Then, to store and ship them locally. A useful way to assess your fulfilment setup is to count how many times your product is handled and stored between the factory and the customer.

Every stop adds cost. Every delay ties up cash. Every hand-off creates another point where something can go wrong.

For a brand that already manufactures in China, a China-based 3PL can remove much of that extra movement. Instead of sending stock from the factory to port, then to ocean freight, then to an Australian warehouse, then to the customer, inventory can move from the factory to a China-based fulfilment operation and then ship direct to the customer.

This is where 3PL China fulfilment becomes especially relevant for brands selling into multiple markets.

It can reduce bulk stock movement, lower local warehouse dependency, and help one inventory pool serve orders into Australia, the UK, Europe, and other supported destinations.

Why China-Based Fulfilment Can Reduce Unnecessary Stock Movement

For brands already manufacturing in China, China-based fulfilment keeps stock closer to production.

That changes the cost structure. Instead of pushing inventory halfway around the world to wait in a local warehouse, brands can hold stock closer to the factory and ship orders directly to customers as they come in.

The saving is structural. It is not just a cheaper rate. A China-based 3PL can help reduce:

• Bulk sea freight before demand is proven
• Local warehouse dependency
• Duplicate storage across several markets
• Manual stock reconciliation between China and local warehouses
• Upfront duty and tax on inventory that has not sold yet
• Extra handling between factory, port, warehouse, and customer

It can also make stock easier to manage across markets.

For example, if the same product is selling into Australia, the UK, and Europe, holding one pool of inventory in China may be more flexible than splitting stock across several local warehouses.

This can be especially useful for fashion brands with multiple sizes, colours, and seasonal drops. Instead of guessing how much stock to send into each market ahead of time, brands can fulfil from a central China-based operation and respond more flexibly to demand.

There is also an operational benefit.

If a sizing, colour, labelling, or packaging issue is caught at the China facility, it can be dealt with before the product travels any further. That is very different from discovering the issue after a container has already landed in Australia.

For Australian fashion brands manufacturing in China, read our blog: Global 3PL Fulfilment: A Guide for Australian Fashion DTC Brands Shipping from China

How Flowa Global Helps Ecommerce Brands Manage Fulfilment Costs from China

Flowa Global helps D2C brands that manufacture in China ship directly to customers across Australia, the UK, Europe, and other supported markets.

Instead of moving stock from the factory to a local warehouse before it can be sold, brands can hold inventory at Flowa's China-based fulfilment centre and ship direct to customers from there.

For brands manufacturing in China, the model is built around speed, cost control, and visibility. Ship direct-to-consumer from Flowa's China-based fulfilment centre, in 3–7 days, at up to 40% less than traditional freight.*

Flowa's billing is itemised by category, including outbound, inbound, storage, services, and exceptions. Every exception fee requires approval before it is processed, so brands can see where their fulfilment spend is going instead of being surprised at invoice time.

The platform also gives teams one place to view inventory states, orders, routing, and exceptions. Risky orders can be held for manual approval before dispatch, while inbound quality checks help catch size, colour, labelling, and defect issues before they reach customers.

If you want to see the arithmetic for your own products, book a call to get a lane plan and landed-cost estimate for your corridor before you commit. You can also test the model first, with Flowa's trial starting from $30 USD and converting to account credit on your first invoice.

Explore how Flowa works, view the platform, or book a call to map your China-to-market lane.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 3PL cost for an ecommerce brand?

There is no fixed rate. 3PL costs are usually made up of separate fees for receiving, storage, pick and pack, packaging, shipping, returns, and exception charges.

Your total cost depends on order volume, product size, SKU count, how long stock is stored, delivery destination, and the level of service you need.

What are the main 3PL cost components?

The main 3PL cost components are onboarding, receiving, storage, pick and pack, packaging materials, shipping and last-mile delivery, returns processing, and exception fees.

For brands comparing 3PL services, it is important to look beyond the per-order rate and understand the full cost structure.

What are 3PL warehouse costs?

3PL warehouse costs are the fees you pay to store inventory at your fulfilment provider's warehouse.

These may be charged by pallet, shelf, bin, cubic metre, or another storage measure. Costs can increase when stock moves slowly, takes up more space, or needs special handling.

Why can a China-based 3PL be cheaper for brands that manufacture in China?

A China-based 3PL can be cheaper because it keeps fulfilment closer to production.

Instead of paying to move inventory in bulk to a local warehouse before it sells, brands can hold stock in China and ship orders directly to customers. This can reduce bulk freight, local warehouse dependency, duplicate storage, and unnecessary stock movement.

Does shipping direct from China work for the US market?

It needs care.

US Customs has suspended de minimis treatment for low-value shipments, so direct-from-China parcels into the US must account for duties and customs entry requirements.

For US-bound fulfilment, brands need a compliant, duty-aware lane instead of assuming the old low-cost direct shipping model still applies.

What should Australian ecommerce brands check before choosing a 3PL provider?

Australian ecommerce brands should check how the provider prices receiving, storage, pick and pack, packaging, shipping, returns, and exception fees.

They should also ask where inventory will be stored, how quickly stock can go live, how orders are tracked, what happens when something goes wrong, and whether the 3PL provider can support their target markets without unnecessary stock movement.

Disclaimer

*Delivery times depend on destination, parcel weight, and service level; not all routes fall within the stated window and no delivery time is guaranteed. Cost savings are based on actual data from one apparel brand shipping China to Australia and vary by product type, destination, and service level; the up-to-40% figure is corridor and product specific and is not a blanket claim. Goods live within 24–48 hours and same-day dispatch are standard, subject to QA hold workflows, inbound volume, and carrier cut-off times. Order accuracy of 99.98% is a Flowa operational figure.

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Finding a supplier in China is one thing. Making sure they meet your product, pricing and production requirements is another. A reliable China sourcing agent helps you compare suppliers, coordinate samples and manage production from inside China.

A 2026 industry analysis reports that more than 70% of mid-to-large importers use professional sourcing agents, with average procurement cost reductions of 8% to 15% and 40% less time spent managing the supply chain.

However, these benefits depend on choosing an agent who understands your product and provides clear oversight of suppliers, samples and production.

This blog explains how to compare China sourcing agents and what to confirm before choosing one.

What is a China sourcing agent?

A China sourcing agent helps overseas businesses find and manage Chinese suppliers. Some agents only identify factories and collect quotations. Others stay involved throughout sampling, negotiation, production, product checks and the handover of finished goods.

Depending on the agreement, a sourcing agent may help you:

• Find suppliers that match your product requirements
• Request and compare quotations
• Negotiate prices, minimum order quantities and lead times
• Coordinate samples and revisions
• Communicate specifications to suppliers
• Monitor production milestones
• Arrange agreed product checks
• Resolve issues during production
• Coordinate finished goods before fulfilment

The agent should represent your requirements throughout the process. You should still approve the supplier, product specification, commercial terms and any production changes.

When is a sourcing agent worth using?

Not every order needs a sourcing agent. If you are buying a standard product from a supplier you already trust, you may be able to manage the process directly.

A sourcing agent becomes more useful when:

• You are developing or customising a product
• You need to compare several factories
• You do not speak Chinese
• Your product has detailed material, sizing or finishing requirements
• You need help negotiating minimum order quantities
• You are sourcing several products or new product lines
• You cannot visit suppliers or monitor production in person
• You need someone in China when a production issue appears

Fashion brands often need more coordination because a single product can carry many variables. Fabric, colour, measurements, stitching, trims, labels and packaging all need to match the approved specification. One wrong fabric, size run or label can turn a low unit price into rework, delays or stock you cannot sell.

When an agent may not add enough value

An agent may not be necessary if you have one trusted supplier, a repeat order and no product changes. The same may apply when an order is so small that the agent’s fee does not provide meaningful support. An agent also cannot replace a clear product specification. If your brief is vague, the supplier will have to fill in the gaps.

What should you look for in a China sourcing agent?

The best sourcing agent in China is not necessarily the one with the largest supplier network or the lowest fee. The right agent should understand your product, explain the process clearly and give you enough information to make each decision.

Relevant product experience

Ask whether the agent has worked with products similar to yours. An agent familiar with apparel should understand that fabric, grading, stitching, trims, labels and packing instructions need to be treated as separate requirements. You can often judge their experience by the questions they ask before contacting suppliers.

A clear supplier selection process

The agent should also explain how suppliers are found and assessed.

Ask:

• How many suppliers will be compared?
• Why was each supplier shortlisted?
• Will you know which factory is producing your goods?
• Can you communicate directly with the supplier when necessary?
• Does the agent receive payments from recommended suppliers?

A shortlist should give you useful choices, not direct you towards one unexplained option.

Comparisons that go beyond unit price

A useful supplier comparison should cover:

• Minimum order quantities
• Sample costs
• Included sample revisions
• Production lead times
• Material specifications
• Packaging requirements
• Payment terms
• Tooling or development costs
• Product-checking arrangements
• Rework or replacement terms

In fact, the cheapest unit price may require a larger order, lower-grade material or less flexible production terms. Look at the full commitment before deciding.

A documented sampling process

A sample shows whether the supplier has understood your requirements before bulk production begins.

For apparel, you may need to review:

• Fabric
• Colour
• Measurements
• Fit
• Stitching
• Labels
• Trims
• Print or embroidery placement
• Packaging

Moreover, comments and requested changes should be recorded rather than agreed verbally. Ask who keeps the approved sample and how the supplier will use it as the reference for bulk production.

Production and product-checking procedures

Once production begins, the agent should monitor agreed milestones and let you know when a decision is needed.

They should also explain how product checks will be arranged.

“Quality checked” is too broad. The criteria should name the features being reviewed, such as sizing, colour, stitching, labelling, visible defects or packaging.

If something does not meet the specification, you should receive evidence and a recommended next step before the goods move. These checks do not replace your legal responsibilities. Product safety, fibre content, care labels and import requirements differ across Australia, the UK and the EU. You still need to confirm which rules apply to your products.

Verifiable commercial arrangements

Confirm who contracts with the factory, who receives your payment and where deposits are held. You should also verify the agent’s registered business details and receive written terms before paying. 

A clear plan after production

Sourcing does not end when the supplier finishes making the goods. Your products still need to be received, recorded, checked, packed and prepared for fulfilment.

Ask the agent:

• Where will the finished goods be sent?
• Who will receive and record them?
• Can stock from different suppliers be consolidated?
• Which product checks will be completed?
• How will affected units be handled?
• Who will apply labels or branded packaging?
• How will the stock connect to customer orders?

Planning this handover early can prevent finished products from sitting at a supplier while everyone works out what happens next.

For a detailed comparison of how both fulfilment models work, read our blog to dropshipping vs 3PL fulfilment for Australian fashion brands.

How to shortlist sourcing agents in China

Start with referrals from brands in a similar category, professional networks, trade shows, supplier introductions, LinkedIn and China-based sourcing providers. Do not appoint the first agent you find.

Build a shortlist and send each candidate the same product brief. This will make it easier to compare:

• Supplier recommendations
• Product understanding
• Fees
• Service scope
• Response quality
• Production timelines
• Minimum order quantities

Pay attention to the questions each agent asks. Someone who provides a price before understanding your materials, quantities or quality requirements may not be looking for the right supplier.

Questions to ask before choosing an agent

Use the same questions with every shortlisted agent:

• Which product categories do you specialise in?
• How do you find and assess suppliers?
• How many suppliers will you compare?
• Will I know which factory is producing my goods?
• Who contracts with the factory?
• Who receives my payments?
• How do you charge?
• Do you receive fees from suppliers?
• What is included in your fee?
• Who coordinates samples and revisions?
• How many sample rounds are included?
• How are specifications and approvals recorded?
• How do you monitor production?
• What product checks can be arranged?
• What happens if the order does not match the approved sample?
• Can you consolidate stock from different suppliers?
• How are finished goods handed over for fulfilment?

A reliable agent should be able to answer these questions without relying on broad promises.

How China sourcing agent fees work

China sourcing agents commonly use one or more of the following pricing models.

Percentage commission

The agent charges a percentage of the order value. This is easy to calculate, but the fee increases with your order. Confirm whether it applies only to the goods or also to samples, packaging and domestic transport.

Fixed project fee

You pay a set amount for an agreed scope of work. This can make costs easier to forecast. Check how many suppliers, sample rounds and revisions are included.

Service-based fees

Supplier research, sample coordination, inspections and production monitoring are charged separately. This gives you more flexibility, although the total cost can be harder to estimate at the beginning.

Supplier-paid commission

The supplier pays the agent. This does not automatically make the arrangement unsuitable, but it should be disclosed. Ask whether supplier payments affect which options are recommended. The important part is knowing what you are paying, what the fee covers and which additional costs need your approval.

Warning signs to take seriously

Be cautious if an agent:

• Quotes before understanding your product
• Promises the lowest price without explaining the trade-offs
• Avoids explaining how suppliers are selected
• Will not disclose how they are paid
• Refuses to provide written terms
• Discourages samples or product checks
• Uses vague standards such as “high quality”
• Pushes you into bulk production quickly
• Changes suppliers without your approval
• Cannot show how production issues will be recorded
• Becomes difficult to reach after receiving payment
• Has no plan for the goods after production

One concern may have a reasonable explanation. Several together suggest that the arrangement could create more risk than it removes.

Prepare your sourcing brief first

A China sourcing agent can only work with the information you provide. Your initial brief should include:

• Product description
• Reference images or designs
• Materials
• Measurements and specifications
• Colour requirements
• Estimated order quantity
• Target minimum order quantity
• Target price range
• Packaging requirements
• Destination markets
• Required production date
• Product checks
• Labelling requirements
• Expected sales channels

You do not need to finalise every detail before making an enquiry. Separate your requirements into what is fixed, what is flexible and where you want a recommendation. This helps the agent approach suitable suppliers and provide quotations you can compare properly.

How Flowa supports sourcing and fulfilment from China

Finding a supplier is only the first step. Our team helps carry your product from supplier search and sampling through to finished stock and fulfilment.

Supplier sourcing and coordination

Our bilingual China team sources suitable suppliers and new product lines, coordinates production, resolves issues and consolidates stock before fulfilment. We can match your brief with suitable suppliers and compare options across Chinese sourcing channels, including 1688.com, Taobao, Alibaba and AliExpress. You can review samples, pricing, minimum order quantities and production terms before deciding which supplier to use.

Production support

Our team communicates with suppliers in Chinese and keeps your approved product requirements clear throughout sampling and production. If a material, measurement, timeline or production term changes, you can review the issue before work continues. This gives you direct control over important decisions without having to manage every factory conversation yourself.

Stock receiving and product checks

When finished inventory arrives at our fulfilment centre in China, we receive and record it by SKU and variant. Specified inbound checks can be applied to sizing, colour, stitching, labelling, visible defects and other agreed requirements. If we find a problem, affected units can be placed on hold with photo evidence for your review. You decide whether the stock should be released, reworked or handled another way.

Looking for more control over your inventory, product checks, packaging and delivery? Read our guide to why 3PL is a better alternative to dropshipping for fashion brands.

Branded fulfilment and dispatch

Once the inventory is approved, we apply your packing rules as orders arrive. This can include:

• Tissue paper
• Stickers
• Inserts
• Kitting
• Other branded presentation requirements

Standard inventory is typically ready for sale within 24 to 48 hours of arrival, subject to inbound volume and product-checking requirements.* Orders received before the relevant cut-off can be dispatched the same day.*

Our WMS/OMS platform shows which units are incoming, available, reserved or on hold. You can also see orders, tracking and delivery exceptions in one place.

Choose a sourcing partner that stays useful after the supplier is found

A reliable China sourcing agent should do more than provide factory names. They should help you compare suitable suppliers, document your requirements, coordinate samples, follow production and resolve issues before they become expensive.

You should also know what happens once production ends. If you plan sourcing, stock receiving, and fulfilment together, your finished products can move into saleable inventory without an unclear handover between separate providers.

Our team supports that full process from China. We help you source suitable suppliers, coordinate production, consolidate stock, apply specified product checks and prepare orders for delivery to customers in supported markets.

Book a call to discuss your product, target price, order quantity and destination markets. We can map the process from supplier search to dispatched order before you commit to production.

You can also see how Flowa works or learn more about our global fulfilment from China.

*Timelines and service availability depend on product type, inbound volume, product-checking requirements, destination and selected shipping route. Sourcing results, minimum order quantities and small-batch availability depend on the supplier, product and order.

This article provides general information and is not legal, customs or tax advice. Product safety, labelling and import requirements vary by market. Confirm the requirements that apply to your products with an appropriate adviser.

On 1 July 2026, the EU removed the customs duty exemption for imported consignments worth up to €150.

A temporary customs duty of €3 now applies to each customs declaration item in eligible low-value consignments.

For DTC brands shipping orders into the EU, the immediate question is not simply whether each parcel costs another €3. The amount depends on the products inside the order and how they are classified on the customs declaration.

This affects the landed cost of each order, the margin left after fulfilment and the price the customer expects to pay.

The brands that prepare their product data and shipping setup can include the duty before dispatch. The customer sees the expected price, while the parcel reaches customs with the information required to process it.

Here is what has changed, what is still coming, and what to review now.

What changed with EU customs in 2026

Until 30 June 2026, consignments with an intrinsic value of up to €150 could enter the EU without customs duty. VAT and customs declaration requirements still applied.

That exemption has now ended.

Under Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 of 11 February 2026, a temporary customs duty of €3 applies to each customs declaration item in eligible consignments worth up to €150.

The duty is based on tariff classification, not the number of physical products inside the parcel.

The European Commission defines an item as one or more goods in a consignment sharing the same tariff classification, description and, where it is required, origin.

Here are two examples:

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Both parcels sit under the €150 threshold. The second one still costs twice as much in duty, because it holds two different types of goods.

Five T-shirts do not automatically create five separate charges. Goods sharing the same classification, description and origin count as one customs item.

The T-shirt and watch fall under different tariff classifications. They count as two customs items and attract a total duty of €6.

Above €150, the €3 rate does not apply at all. Those consignments follow the standard customs tariffs for their classifications.

For DTC brands, the products customers buy together determine the cost. A mixed order may carry more than one €3 charge.

What has changed and what is coming

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The Commission is required to review the position by 1 December 2027. If the supporting customs IT infrastructure is not expected to be ready in time, it may propose extending the temporary duty beyond 1 July 2028.

A separate EU handling fee has also been proposed. As of 12 August 2026, its amount and start date have not been confirmed.

The €3 duty is therefore the cost to account for now. The proposed handling fee should remain separate until the EU confirms the details.

Which goods sit outside the temporary duty

The temporary €3 duty applies to eligible low-value goods entering the EU from outside the bloc.

It applies to distance sales, meaning goods sold by a business to a customer in the EU and shipped from outside it. Commercial imports that are not distance sales, such as bulk stock moved into an EU warehouse, follow standard customs rules and tariffs instead.

Goods moving between EU countries remain under existing intra-EU arrangements.

Consignments worth more than €150 follow the standard customs rules and tariffs for their product classifications.

Goods covered by preferential trade agreements or customs union arrangements may qualify for different treatment when the relevant conditions are met. The European Commission explains that preferential treatment must be claimed through the correct customs declaration. The applicable process may also vary when VAT has been collected through IOSS.

Confirm the product's origin status, VAT arrangement and declaration requirements with your carrier or customs adviser before shipping.

For most low-value DTC orders shipped directly from China to EU customers, the temporary duty should be accounted for in the customs setup.

Which DTC brands are affected

The change affects DTC brands selling goods to EU customers when those goods are shipped from outside the EU.

This includes brands that:

• fulfil EU orders directly from China
• sell through a marketplace that facilitates imports into the EU
• are testing EU demand before moving inventory into a local warehouse
• send individual customer orders across the EU border

This is not a China-specific rule. It applies whenever eligible goods are shipped into the EU from outside the bloc.

For example, if a brand fulfils individual customer orders directly from China, each eligible order may attract the temporary €3 duty when it enters the EU.

If the brand sends stock in bulk to an EU warehouse instead, that shipment follows the normal customs rules when it enters the EU. The temporary €3 duty is not then charged again when individual orders are delivered from the warehouse.

What the changes mean for your fulfilment operation

The €3 duty is charged when the order enters the EU. But the amount depends on the products inside the parcel and the information submitted before it leaves China.

Calculate the duty using real customer orders

Start with this calculation:

Added duty per order = €3 × number of customs declaration items

A mixed order may include several customs declaration items, so parcel count and average order value only tell part of the story.

Look at the products customers usually buy together and how they are likely to appear on the customs declaration. This will help you understand:

• the duty added to common order types
• the landed cost for each destination
• the margin left after fulfilment
• whether your current shipping price still works

Make sure your product data matches

How each product is classified affects how the order is declared and how many €3 charges apply.

Each active SKU should have:

• the correct tariff code
• a clear product description
• the correct country of origin
• a matching product identifier

Use specific descriptions that clearly explain what the product is. Keep the same information across your product catalogue, commercial invoice and customs declaration.

Prepare product identifiers before November

From 1 November 2026, product identifiers become mandatory for imported distance-sale goods.

The European Commission's guidance covers identifiers assigned by merchants and manufacturers. A standardised manufacturer identifier must also be supplied when one exists for the item.

For brands with many products and variants, the same identifier should follow each item from the online store to the inventory record and customs declaration.

These identifiers can already be submitted voluntarily. Preparing them now gives you time to organise your product data before the requirement begins.

Know who is liable for the duty

The €3 is a customs debt, and customs debts sit with the declarant.

Under Article 77(3) of the Union Customs Code, the declarant is the main debtor and is responsible for the financial obligations attached to the import duty.

The European Commission's guidance sets out who acts as declarant, in order:

• where the seller uses IOSS, the IOSS holder or its indirect representative
• where it does not, the Special Arrangements holder, usually the carrier or postal operator, or its indirect representative
• only where neither applies, and the member state offers a free online declaration service, the consumer

For most DTC brands selling to EU consumers under IOSS, that means the duty is the seller's to account for.

Your customer does not pay it as a duty. They pay the price you have set, and the duty sits inside your landed cost.

The exception is the Special Arrangements route. There the carrier acts as declarant and usually recovers the duty, along with the VAT, from the customer before releasing the parcel.

The cost still reaches the customer either way. The difference is whether it arrives as a price at checkout or as a charge at the door.

That is a commercial decision as much as a customs one. Charges collected on delivery are a common cause of refused parcels and support tickets.

Treat VAT and the duty as separate costs

IOSS allows eligible sellers to collect and report VAT at checkout for consignments worth up to €150.

The temporary €3 customs duty is separate. It applies to eligible distance sales regardless of the VAT scheme used, whether that is IOSS, Special Arrangements or the standard VAT procedure.

They are different charges, but they usually travel together, because both follow whoever declares the goods.

So if you collect VAT at checkout under IOSS, the duty is also yours to account for. If the carrier declares under Special Arrangements, it will usually collect both from your customer on delivery.

Your shipping setup should account for both before the order leaves China.

Decide how the duty will be settled

Before an order ships, decide where the €3 sits and how it is collected.

Confirm:

• which VAT scheme you use, and who acts as declarant on your shipments
• whether the duty is priced into checkout or collected on delivery
• how the duty will be settled, and by whom
• what information your carrier needs before dispatch

For supported duty-paid routes, Flowa can arrange for the duty to be settled before the parcel reaches your customer, so the cost sits in your pricing rather than at their door.*

This helps keep the price consistent from checkout to delivery.

What changes after 2028

The temporary €3 duty is scheduled to remain in place until 1 July 2028, unless it is extended.

After that date, standard customs tariffs are expected to apply based on the product type and classification. The EU Customs Data Hub for ecommerce is also expected to support how customs information is submitted and processed.

The product data prepared now will continue to matter. Accurate tariff codes, descriptions, origins and product identifiers will help brands calculate costs and prepare customs declarations under the system that follows.

Manage EU customs as part of your fulfilment plan

For DTC fashion brands shipping from China into the EU, customs affects the route, landed cost and price shown to the customer. It needs to be planned as part of the wider fulfilment operation.

Flowa helps you manage this before orders move.

Your priority EU lanes, expected delivery windows, customs requirements and estimated landed costs are mapped around the products you sell and the orders customers place.*

This helps you compare:

• the expected cost of common order types
• how different product mixes affect the duty
• where direct fulfilment remains commercially useful
• when bulk replenishment into an EU warehouse or 3PL may make more sense

For supported routes, Flowa can arrange duty-paid shipping, so the duty is settled before the parcel reaches your customer.*

Once an order is moving, Flowa flags customs holds and delivery exceptions with the next action required. You can respond while keeping the customer informed.

The result is a fulfilment plan that accounts for EU customs before the order leaves China. Your brand has a clearer view of the cost, and your customer receives a more consistent experience from checkout to delivery.

Book a call to map your priority EU lanes and compare the landed cost of direct fulfilment and local replenishment.

Availability, timing and costs depend on the destination, product type, parcel weight and service level. This article provides general operational information and is not customs, tax or legal advice.