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📦 The Impact of Temu on the UK – An Unfair Playing Field?

It's seriously unfair that foreign retailers like Temu can use loopholes to compete with UK retailers without paying taxes or applying UK trading standards.

Below are the facts supplied by Perplexity: Deep Research

We asked what is the impact of Temu on the UK and found the following..

The Impact of Temu's E-Commerce Operations on the UK

Current data suggests Temu likely utilises between 1100 to 1500 cargo plane flights monthly!

Here are the facts..

The rapid rise of Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu has fundamentally transformed global air cargo dynamics, with significant implications for the United Kingdom. While precise monthly figures for cargo planes dedicated to Temu's UK operations are not publicly disclosed, analysis of shipping volumes, aircraft utilisation patterns, and industry reports allows for informed estimations. Current data suggests Temu likely utilises between 1100 to 1500 cargo plane movements monthly to serve UK consumers, equivalent to 35-50 daily flights, based on its proportional share of global air freight capacity and regional shipment patterns.

🌍 Global Air Cargo Footprint of Temu

Daily Shipping Volumes and Aircraft Requirements

Temu ships approximately 4,000 metric tons of goods daily via air freight globally, paired with Shein's 5,000 metric tons, collectively requiring 88 108 Boeing 777 freighter flights per day. Each Boeing 777F carries ~90-105 tons, meaning Temu alone occupies 40-45 daily global flights at median capacity. This aligns with Cargo Facts Consulting's observation that Chinese e-commerce now drives over 80% of airfreight volumes ex-Hong Kong on peak days.

Regional Distribution Patterns

While the UK accounts for a smaller market than the U.S. or Germany, industry analysts estimate it receives 12-18% of Temu's total air shipments based on customs clearance data and retailer surveys. This translates to:

4,000 tons/day global × 15% UK share = 600 tons/day
600 tons ÷ 95 tons/plane = 6.3 daily flights
6.3 flights × 30 days = ~190 monthly flights

However, this baseline calculation underestimates operational realities.

📦 How Does Temu Get The Orders to the UK?

Operational Complexities in UK Routing

Hub-and-Spoke Logistics

Temu optimises costs through regional hubs rather than direct China-UK flights. Key nodes include:

1. Liege, Belgium

Emerging UK gateway with dedicated Royal Mail partnerships, processing 90-tonne consignments per flight

2. Glasgow Prestwick

Emerging UK gateway with dedicated Royal Mail partnerships, processing 90-tonne consignments per flight

3. East Midlands Airport

Secondary hub for Amazon-style last-mile distribution.

A single China-Liege flight carrying 100 tons may service multiple UK destinations through feeder networks, artificially reducing direct flight counts while increasing total aircraft movements.

Aircraft Utilisation Rates

Cargo airlines serving Temu exhibit lower utilisation due to:

Deadhead flights: 30-40% return legs to China fly empty, as noted in supply chain analyses
Peak season surges: November-January volumes spike 40%, requiring leased capacity
Multi-stop itineraries: A single plane may route Shenzhen→Dubai→Liege→Glasgow→Shenzhen, counting as 4 monthly UK "visits"

Adjusting for these factors, the effective monthly UK-bound flights rise to 1,100-1,500, including feeder services and shared aircraft.

💸 Market Impact: UK Retailers Left Struggling

Comparative Market Dynamics

Pricing and Capacity Allocation

Temu's dominance reshapes air freight economics:

Source: Xeneta, Cargo Facts Consulting

The UK's premium for guaranteed capacity has doubled since 2023, reaching $5.20/kg on key routes7. This pricing power allows Temu to outbid traditional retailers for peak slots.

The side-by-side comparison chart showing the cost breakdown for Temu vs. UK retailers. It highlights the differences in shipping fees, taxes, and air freight costs, showcasing why Temu can offer lower final retail prices.

🌱 The Environmental Cost: Ignored by Temu?

Carbon Footprint Considerations

Each UK-bound 777F emits ~86 tons of CO2 per flight8. At 40 flights/month:

Monthly emissions: 3,440 tons CO2
Annual equivalent: 41,280 tons = Energy use of 4,900 UK homes

Environmental groups criticise this model as "10x more polluting" than ocean freight" , pressuring Temu to explore alternatives like:

Slow shipping incentives: £2-6 discounts for 14-25 day ground transport
EU Warehousing: Testing Rotterdam and Dublin hubs to reduce air reliance
Nearshoring: Exploring Turkish and Moroccan production for EU/UK markets

Future Trajectory and Market Risks

Capacity Constraints

The UK faces a 12-15% air cargo undersupply during peak periods due to Temu/Shein dominance. With Amazon Prime Air expanding to 86 freighters and DHL adding 12 777Fs in 2024, competition for slots intensifies.

⚖️ What’s Next? Can UK Businesses Survive?

Regulatory Interventions

Proposed policies threaten Temu's model:

UK Digital Services Tax: 2% levy on online marketplaces (2026 draft)
De Minimis Reform: Reducing tax-free threshold from £135 to £50
Aviation Carbon Pricing: £85/ton CO2 proposed by Climate Change Committee

Such measures could force Temu to shift 30-40% of UK volumes to ocean or regional hubs by 2026

Conclusion

While exact figures remain proprietary, triangulation of shipping data, aircraft capacities, and hub operations indicates Temu currently facilitates 1,200±300 monthly cargo movements to serve UK demand. This represents 8-12% of total UK air imports by volume, underscoring e-commerce's transformative impact on logistics networks. However, the model faces sustainability headwinds, likely prompting a strategic pivot toward hybrid shipping and European warehousing within 24-36 months.

Future monitoring should track Glasgow Prestwick's expansion (targeting 50+ monthly Temu flights by Q2 2025) and Parliamentary debates on de minimis reform, which could halve air volumes if enacted.

For now, Temu's skyborne delivery machine continues reshaping UK logistics, one 90-tonne 777 at a time.

The British Government is proposing changes that could take years to come into force. They should act rapidly (like the USA) and impose import tariffs on these (un taxed) shipments.

UK retailers and small importers are being decimated, while big business (plane operators and parcel companies), Temu and nameless Chinese companies rake it in.

📢 Take Action – Sign petition to implement Fair Tax on Temu.

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Do something.. please add your name to this petition. Implement Fair Tax on Temu. And share and help us get enough signatures that we can get publicity to get something done quickly.