The EU’s €3 flat import fee, which took effect on 1 July 2026, has already cut the flow of low‑value parcels – those valued under €150 – entering the bloc by roughly half, according to customs data released this week.
Fee background and scope
The flat charge applies to any parcel under €150 crossing an EU border, regardless of its origin. The policy was introduced as a measure to curb the surge of cheap e‑commerce shipments, particularly those arriving from China, that have been flooding EU customs channels.
Early evidence from customs authorities
Euronews Business reported that, in the period from 1 July 2026 to mid‑September 2026, the total volume of qualifying parcels fell by about 50% compared with the same period a year earlier. The figure is an approximation – the source lists it as “≈50 %”.
Two member states that together account for almost half of all low‑value parcels arriving from outside the EU provide the most detailed breakdown.
- Belgian customs data show a 53 % year‑on‑year decline in parcels under €150 for the July 2025‑July 2026 period.
- Dutch customs data show a 46 % year‑on‑year decline for the same period, with the Dutch note that part of the drop may reflect a shift toward bulk imports and intra‑EU storage rather than a pure reduction in total parcels.
Both sets of data attribute the decline to the new €3 fee, which has moved many shipments out of the simplified customs regime and into the full customs process.
Country‑by‑country impact
| Country | Percentage change |
|---|---|
| Belgium | -53% |
| Netherlands | -46% |
| EU total (approx.) | -≈50% |
Source: Euronews Business (customs data).
The steep Belgian decline is the sharpest recorded among the EU’s major entry points, while the Dutch figure is notable both for its size and for the accompanying comment that some of the reduction may be a statistical artefact of businesses consolidating shipments once they are inside the Union.
Implications for e‑commerce and UK exporters
The fee targets the cheap‑parcel model that many Chinese e‑commerce platforms have used to reach European consumers. By raising the marginal cost of each parcel by €3, the policy makes it less attractive to ship individually packaged items below the €150 threshold.
For UK firms that sell low‑value goods to EU customers, the same charge now applies. While the data do not break out UK‑origin parcels, the overall halving of cheap‑parcel inflow suggests that UK e‑commerce exporters will face higher customs costs and may need to rethink logistics – for example by consolidating orders or shifting to higher‑value product mixes.
What remains unknown
The packet does not provide a full EU‑wide breakdown beyond Belgium and the Netherlands, nor does it give a post‑fee trend for the months beyond mid‑September 2026. It also does not quantify how much of the Dutch decline is due to genuine volume loss versus a shift to bulk imports and storage within the EU, a nuance flagged by Dutch customs.
Finally, the longer‑term effect on consumer prices, delivery times and the competitive balance between EU‑based and non‑EU e‑commerce players remains to be seen.
Next steps
Customs authorities will continue to publish monthly figures, allowing analysts to track whether the initial shock stabilises or deepens. Stakeholders – from logistics providers to UK exporters – will be watching for any adjustments to the fee or accompanying exemptions that could alter the trajectory.