Record numbers of small parcels from China are arriving in Norway, driven by massive increases in direct-to-consumer e-commerce platforms. According to fresh data released by Tolletaten and reported by E24, exactly 1,3 million low-value shipments entered the country via the VOEC scheme during the month of June. This volume represents a nearly 50 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to figures analyzed by the customs authority.
Record 1,3 Million Chinese Packages Arrive in Norway in June
The surge in low-value imports means that statistically, nearly every third adult in Norway received a package from China in June alone, based on a total adult population of approximately millions. According to E24, these shipments are arriving under the VOEC (VAT on E-Commerce) scheme, which allows consumers to buy goods duty-free from foreign online stores for up to 3,000 kroner. Jarle Hammerstad, head of politics at the trade organization Virke, told E24 that the registered value of these packages climbed 70 percent higher than the previous year, while total shipments for the first half of the year rose by 19 percent.
Did you know? The VOEC scheme effectively replaced the older 350-kroner tax exemption limit on January 1, 2024, opening the floodgates for international e-commerce platforms to ship low-value goods directly to Norwegian households without standard customs duties.
Virke Calls Volume ‘Frighteningly High’ and Warns of Uneven Competition
Industry leaders are sounding the alarm over the sheer scale of the imports. According to Jarle Hammerstad of Virke, the monthly total is “frighteningly high.” Virke has lobbied for regulatory adjustments since the VOEC scheme took effect, arguing that the current rules tilt the playing field heavily toward foreign platforms. While international digital storefronts like the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein, alt-platforms like Temu and Alibaba, along with European retailers like Germany’s Zalando and Sweden’s Boozt, sell directly to Norwegian buyers without standard domestic textile tariffs, traditional Norwegian clothing chains must pay textile customs duties on goods they import for resale, as noted by E24.
Hammerstad told E24 that this dynamic undermines competition for domestic businesses. Furthermore, he noted that a large share of these cheap products comes from operators that do not adhere to environmental and chemical regulations, meaning companies compete on entirely different terms. He added that low prices foster an unsustainable consumption pattern where consumers buy in bulk and simply throw items away if unsatisfied.
EU Implements New Import Tariffs Amid European Flood of Goods
The rapid growth in small-package imports is not unique to Norway. According to Jarle Hammerstad, the trend mirrors a broader European phenomenon documented by the EU, where small-parcel shipments under low-value import exemptions grew by 26 percent—from 4,6 to 5,9 milliarder varer—between 2024 and 2025. Data from the EU Commission indicates that 9 out of 10 of these items originate in China. Hammerstad described the influx to E24 as a “flood wave of goods” washing over Europe, noting that the acceleration followed actions by the United States to progressively ramp up tariffs on Chinese e-commerce and eliminate its small-package tax exemption.
In response to the mounting volume and regulatory concerns, the EU introduced a three-euro import tax on July 1 for all items valued up to 150 euro, according to information cited by Virke. The European Union is also advancing the Digital Product Act, a regulatory framework designed to mandate transparent tracking of product origin, materials, and safety standards directly at the platform level. Hammerstad argued to E24 that Norway needs to enact similar measures to regain control of the goods flow and ensure a marketplace of legal goods operating on equal terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VOEC scheme in Norway?
The VOEC (VAT on E-Commerce) arrangement allows consumers to purchase goods from foreign online retailers without paying standard customs duties, provided the purchase value is up to 3,000 kroner per item.
How many packages arrived from China in June?
According to data from Tolletaten reported by E24, exactly 1,3 million VOEC shipments arrived from China in June, marking a nearly 50 percent increase from the previous year.
Why are Norwegian retail organizations concerned about these packages?
According to Virke, the massive influx creates unfair competition because foreign platforms sell goods tariff-free while domestic stores must pay local textile customs duties and navigate stricter environmental and chemical compliance requirements.
What measures has the EU taken against small-package imports?
The EU introduced a three-euro import tax on items valued up to 150 euro and is developing the Digital Product Act to enforce stricter origin, material, and safety reporting rules for online marketplaces.
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