Foreign e-commerce on the rise – the industry is worried

Swedish consumers are buying more and more from foreign actors such as Chinese Temu and Shein. A development that is worrying, according to the trade organization Swedish Trade.

In September, 20 percent of consumers shopped online from abroad, compared to 16 percent during the same period in 2023.

"It is worrying that so much of the increase comes from, for example, Temu and Shein, which constantly violate EU legislation regarding, among other things, consumer protection, sustainability, and intellectual property rights. Our measurements show that half a million Swedes shopped there in September", says Per Ljungberg, innovation manager at Swedish Trade, in a press release.

The increase is simultaneously contributing to a significant rise in the overall turnover for e-commerce. According to Swedish Trade's indicator, the turnover was SEK 13 billion in September, an increase of 28 percent compared to 2023.