While majority (59%) of Asia Pacific businesses said they are fully or mostly prepared for the removal of the EU’s de minimis duty exemption starting July 1 this year, a significant number (41%) remained unprepared for the additional cost and exploring more trade opportunities within Asia and the U.S., according to the latest study by FedEx Corp., one of the world’s largest express transportation companies.
Effective July 1, 2026, the EU is abolishing the long-standing 150-euro de minimis duty-free exemption for imported goods. Under the new EU Customs Reform, all low-value consignments imported from outside the EU will be subject to a flat 3 euros customs duty per declaration line.
The removal of this duty exemption introduces new customs requirements and cost implications for cross-border shipments into Europe.
Ahead of the implementation, FedEx, engaged more than 5,000 businesses across 12 Asia Pacific markets to help them navigate the evolving customs clearance requirements, maintain operational efficiency, and reduce the risk of unexpected costs in an increasingly complex trade environment.
Based on its findings, four in ten businesses surveyed are still at an early stage of preparation or remain unprepared for the new customs requirements, highlighting concerns around compliance, documentation, and rising trade costs.
The findings also reveal how businesses are recalibrating their growth and market strategies, with many reassessing European trade opportunities and exploring alternative growth corridors such as intra-Asia trade and the United States.
In particular, the findings showed that 59 percent of APAC businesses say they are fully or mostly prepared for the changes, while 41 percent remain unprepared or in the early stages of readiness.
In addition, 45 percent of businesses view EU Customs regulations as a constraint to growth, driven by higher landed costs (24%) and increased compliance burdens (23%).
Top challenges include limited access to practical guidance, lack of internal customs expertise, and difficulty keeping pace with evolving regulations.
More than one-third (36%) have already adjusted or plan to adjust their EU pricing, while half say the changes are influencing their trade corridor strategies, leading to a reassessment of market priorities. Among those diversifying beyond Europe, Intra-Asia (28%) and the United States (23%) are emerging as key alternatives, highlighting the importance of strong regional and global logistics connectivity.
Salil Chari, president of FedEx Asia Pacific, said FedEx is expanding support to help customers stay compliant and keep shipments moving. “At FedEx, we combine deep trade expertise, digital capabilities, and the strength of our global network to help businesses adapt quickly, operate with confidence, and continue growing across Europe and beyond,” she said.
FedEx said it is making sure that its digital systems are aligned to new requirements.
With 29 percent of businesses identifying digital customs and compliance tools as a top priority, FedEx said its shipping, invoicing, and clearance platforms are already aligned to meet new EU customs processes and data requirements, helping customers continue to ship with confidence.
The logistics company has also created a dedicated EU de minimis information page across APAC markets with regularly updated guidance, videos, and trade resources.
To support continued trade across the critical Asia–Europe corridor, FedEx is enhancing network capacity and flexibility, including five additional weekly flights between Asia to Europe have been added in the past year, providing greater capacity and routing flexibility. There are now a total of 26 weekly flights supporting APAC to Europe shipments, enabling express deliveries in as little as 48 hours.
As 25 percent of businesses seek clearer, step-by-step regulatory guidance, FedEx has launched a proactive customer support program, including direct outreach and detailed guides on Product Identifier requirements and the Import One-Stop Shop.
