New EU parcel fee brings little relief to Styrian online retailers

A new EU handling fee on parcels from outside the bloc could add significantly to online shopping costs, but is unlikely to give Styrian retailers more than a short-term boost, ORF reported.

The two-euro fee took effect on November 1 and is added to existing charges. Shoppers ordering several different products may have to pay it more than once. Other charges include an EU flat-rate customs duty of three euros for goods worth up to 150 euros and Austria’s parcel tax of 2.40 euros per order.

Gerhard Wohlmuth, head of the trade division at the Styrian Economic Chamber, said the fee would not substantially raise the cost of buying from Chinese platforms when several items are shipped together. He also said customs declarations cannot be checked on every parcel and are inspected only on a sample basis.

Wohlmuth said Austrian online retailers might benefit briefly, but expected the market to adjust. He said the volume of products coming from China would continue unless the EU reached an agreement with China and limited the quantities.

An example from the Austrian Consumer Information Association illustrates the possible costs. A shopper ordering flip-flops and two laser pointers from China could face six euros in EU customs duty for two product categories, a 2.40-euro Austrian parcel tax and a six-euro EU handling fee for three items. The total would be 14.40 euros in additional charges.