() — Online shopping giants Temu and Shein saw their sales rebound in March and April as US shoppers stockpiled products like makeup brushes and home appliances before tariff-led price increases set in.
Shein recorded some of its best US sales growth in the past 12 months as revenue jumped 29% in March compared to a year earlier and then accelerated further to 38% over the first 11 days of April, the latest date for which data is available. Meanwhile, PDD Holdings Inc.’s Temu saw growth of 46% and 60% over the same periods, according to Second Measure, which analyzes credit and debit card data. The accelerating growth for the two platforms came after a slowdown in February, when both companies posted their slowest growth in the past year.
Sales have remained robust since March because President Donald Trump’s increasing tariffs signaled to consumers that prices might go up, according to four retailers who sell products on platforms like Temu and Shein speaking with News. The U.S. administration’s choice to
end
Starting from next month, with the “de minimis” exemption allowing small packages valued at up to $800 to be exempted, it’s probable that prices will increase even more.
The rebound in Temu and Shein’s growth numbers reflects how American consumers
are stockpiling
everything from cars to olive oil to iPhones in anticipation of skyrocketing prices after the tariffs set in. Electronics retailer Best Buy Co. recorded its best monthly performance since 2021 and visits to Toyota Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. dealerships also rose.
In their most recent reaction to the tariffs, both Shein and Temu declared intentions to increase costs for American customers in nearly parallel fashion.
notice
Both entities will begin adjusting prices from April 25 because operational costs have increased “as a result of recent modifications in international trade regulations and duties,” according to statements made by the firms.
“We’ve had nice sales since March, and saw some hoarding in recent weeks, such as customers buying 15 sets of the same makeup tool at one time. I haven’t seen that before,” said Sun Yang, who has a Temu store selling face-and body-painting tools such as brushes and color palettes. “I think that’s smart as we will have to raise prices soon when our old inventory is sold out.”
Sun stated that he would have to increase prices by 20% to 30% to offset the higher tariffs and logistics expenses associated with transporting products to US-based distribution centers over the next few weeks.
For certain Chinese suppliers, the primary focus is finding new manufacturing sites abroad promptly because the recent surge in orders won’t likely compensate for the anticipated drop in U.S. sales when they have to increase prices. The move by President Trump to temporarily exempt numerous trading partners from increased tariffs for three months, coupled with hiking duties on China-sourced items up to 145%, has further underscored the importance of diversifying where these companies source their products.
Frank Deng, a sales manager of a Shanghai-based home appliance exporter which sells to the US online, says his company usually has three months-worth of inventory.
“When the inexpensive stock runs out, that’s when the true competition starts,” he stated.
He mentioned that the firm originally believed they could withstand increased tariffs up to a certain point, but when Trump significantly escalated these rates beyond 100%, their strategy shifted dramatically. Now, they are dedicating all of their time seeking alternative production sites in Vietnam.
“He stated that we have just three months to accomplish this, otherwise, the game will be over.”
–With assistance from Luz Ding and Lulu Shen.
(Updated with adjusted prices from Shein and Temu in the fifth paragraph.)
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