More Germans are turning to Chinese online marketplaces for holiday shopping, raising alarm among local retailers who say the trend is draining billions in revenue from domestic businesses.
A YouGov survey found that 12 percent of respondents have already purchased gifts from platforms such as Temu and Shein, while 9 percent plan to do so.
Fashion, toys and household goods are the most popular categories. Half of shoppers spend up to €100, a quarter between €100 and €199, and 14 percent spend more.
Consumers cite low prices, wide product selection and frequent discounts as reasons for shopping on the platforms.
But concerns remain: 45 percent doubt product quality, 41 percent worry about health risks, 32 percent complain about missing safety standards and 27 percent raise ethical issues such as working conditions and environmental impact.
Hundreds of thousands of parcels from Temu and Shein arrive in Germany daily. The HDE is calling for the abolition of customs exemptions on goods valued up to €150, arguing that Chinese platforms exploit this loophole to flood the market with cheap imports.