Chinese ecommerce seller Temu looks as if it is already diversifying away from the US after announcing today that it had signed an MoU with DHL Group, with the German integrator set to “support Temu’s local-to-local initiative, which expects to eventually account for 80% of its sales in Europe”.
In a statement, the two companies said: “The agreement aims to enhance collaboration to better support local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in established markets as well as in growth markets, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East.”
They added: “Additionally, the ecommerce platform will enable European-based sellers to reach global markets in the future. This allows, in particular, SMEs to scale and expand their businesses. DHL will also assist Temu in growing its presence in ecommerce markets, including the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions.”
The statement put much emphasis on compliance. Governments around the world are considering the impact of cross-border ecommerce on local businesses, duties, counterfeits and quality.
With the US already out of the blocks on ending the de minims exemption, platforms like Temu will be eyeing trade diversification – and ways to soothe concerned governments, hence the focus on local-to-local sales and helping local SMEs reach global markets.
“Through our various DHL divisions, we are already providing a wide range of logistics services and solutions, including air freight and last-mile delivery,” said Katja Busch, CCO and head of DHL customer solutions & innovation.
“We are excited to elevate our partnership with Temu to the next level. By combining our logistics capabilities with Temu’s innovative platform, we can create more efficient, compliant and convenient solutions that benefit both consumers and local businesses in the markets we serve.”