How the New Fee on Non-EU Parcels Will Impact Romania’s eCommerce Market
The Romanian Government announced a fixed fee of 25 lei for every parcel worth under €150 coming from outside the European Union. This measure, requested by many local entrepreneurs, mainly targets low-value products ordered from China through international marketplaces.
This change should directly influence consumer purchasing behavior and Romanian online retailers’ strategies too.
The context:
Official data shows that the flow of non-EU parcels into Romania has skyrocketed from just a few thousand per day to over 235,000 daily.
Across Europe, the number of parcels that come from outside of the EU has quadrupled in recent years from one billion to four billion annually.
Impact on Romania’s eCommerce Market
- Romanian retailers could gain a competitive advantage over international platforms since the fee will not affect their products.
- Shoppers can start seeking EU or local alternatives who often order inexpensive things from China to avoid paying the additional fee.
- Romanian as well as European marketplaces could attract part of the audience that used to shop from outside the EU, especially if they offer competitive prices and faster delivery times.
- Local retailers can use this legislative change for positioning themselves as a better-value alternative.
How eCommerce Businesses Can Prepare
- Optimize the shopping experience: fast, mobile-friendly websites with a simple checkout process.
- Diversify product offerings: include items that directly compete with popular products on Asian marketplaces.
- Explain the advantages from buying locally versus importing from outside the EU running targeted communication campaigns.
- Streamline inventory using modern management tools. Automation tools then can streamline delivery for processes.
Conclusion
It is true that the new fee on non-EU parcels is not just any legislative change. For Romanian eCommerce, it may well be a turning point. Retailers who adapt quickly will be able to turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth and customer loyalty.
At Roweb, we support eCommerce entrepreneurs by building personalized, scalable, and fully integrated platforms that help them react quickly to market changes and maximize their sales potential.
