Shenzhen boosts E-commerce activity amid U.S. tariff disruptions resulting in a significant increase in business.
In response to global trade disruptions fueled by U.S. tariffs, Shenzhen, a major city in South China’s Guangdong Province, has introduced new initiatives to bolster its cross-border e-commerce industry. These measures aim to support local businesses in expanding internationally by enhancing logistics and financial services.
According to an official post, local customs handled over two million cross-border e-commerce parcels daily in the first quarter, with business activity notably increasing in March.
Shenzhen’s e-commerce growth is underpinned by synchronized policies across customs, foreign exchange, and tax sectors. These policies collectively provide phased support, covering regulatory compliance, market expansion, and brand development. This helps businesses acquire financing, speed up customs processes, and boost global recognition.
On May 2, the U.S. discontinued a tariff exemption for Chinese parcels under $800 in value. Citing U.S. Customs data, the Wall Street Journal reported that around 1.36 billion parcels had used this exemption during fiscal year 2024.
Independent e-commerce analyst Juozas Kaziukenas noted that although the shock of import tariffs has diminished, the product variety in the U.S. market has declined, as many top-selling goods originated from China.
Despite trade uncertainties, Shenzhen continues to capitalize on its strong economic foundation by enhancing its cross-border logistics capacity to maintain export growth.
As a key national hub for e-commerce, Shenzhen hosts more than 80,000 sellers—accounting for over half of China’s total. The city operates 30 specialized sea freight routes, 11 air freight corridors, and manages 4 million square meters of overseas warehouse space.
On April 27, Shenzhen launched its first express train linked to the China-Europe Railway Express, connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with Europe and invigorating bilateral trade.
This new route helps Shenzhen-based e-commerce companies provide overseas customers with quicker and more streamlined logistics, further facilitating their global reach, as per statements by local authorities and service operators.
Trade fairs in Shenzhen, like the 2025 Global Cross-Border E-commerce Expo, offer vital venues for international commercial interaction. The expo drew over 600 participants from both China and abroad.
Close collaboration between government and leading local e-commerce enterprises has strengthened Shenzhen’s resilience amid U.S. tariff pressures, enabling sustained cross-border e-commerce expansion.
On April 25, Shenzhen-based firm Sailvan Times announced that its 2024 revenue exceeded 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion), with first-quarter 2025 revenue climbing 36.65% year-on-year to 2.46 billion yuan. The company attributed its strong performance to diversification in logistics, strategy, and supply chains in response to U.S. tariffs.
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