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Wency Chen

Thailand authorities are tightening regulations on the bargain shopping site Temu, which entered the Thai market last month, to protect local merchants from the influx of low-priced, direct-to-consumer Chinese products, according to the Bangkok Post.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has directed the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Revenue Department, and police to ensure that Temu, operated by Chinese e-commerce titan PDD Holdings, complies with local laws and pays taxes appropriately, the Thai newspaper reported.
Discussions are under way regarding stricter import measures, the prime minister noted. In July, Thailand introduced a 7 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on imported products priced below 1,500 baht (US$42), effective through the end of December. Next year, a new law will allow the revenue department to continue collecting VAT on such products.
Temu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Temu launched its platform in Thailand on July 31, marking its third market in Southeast Asia after the Philippines and Malaysia. The company is offering discounts of up to 90 per cent on some products and promises fast delivery directly from China, with shipping in under five days.
The e-commerce market in Thailand was worth around US$19 billion last year, a year-on-year growth of 34.1 per cent, making it the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, according to data from industry consultancy Momentum Works.
The Thai market is currently dominated by Sea Group’s Shopee with a market share of 49 per cent, and Alibaba Group Holding’s Lazada with 30 per cent. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
Temu, which operates in over 70 countries and regions worldwide, reported a gross merchandise value of US$20 billion in the first half of the year, surpassing its total sales for 2023, according to Chinese media outlet 36Kr.
In China, Temu is facing a backlash from merchants who are complaining about hefty penalties imposed by the platform, which they describe as “non-transparent”. leading to a recent wave of protests at its Guangzhou office.


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E-commerce

Thailand to tighten scrutiny of PDD-backed shopping app Temu to protect local merchants, report says

The Temu logo is seen in the App Store on an iPhone screen. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Temu reported a gross merchandise value of US$20 billion in the first half of the year. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Discount shopping giant Temu’s supply chain faces scrutiny as mainland sellers protest

Many of Temu’s merchants complain about the platform’s “opaque” system of slapping fines on sellers, while offering few channels for relief. Photo: Shutterstock

A screen grab from a video of mainland Chinese suppliers protesting against Temu on Monday in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province. Photo: YiMagazine

The Temu app on Apple’s online App Store. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese suppliers storm Temu office in Guangzhou in protest over ‘harsh’ policies

A screen grab from video of Chinese suppliers protesting against Temu in Guangzhou on Monday. Photo: YiMagazine

A page from the Temu website is seen in this photo taken June 23, 2023, in New York. Photo: AP

The Temu logo is seen on a mobile phone displayed in front of its website, in this illustration picture taken April 26, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Tech

Policy

Tech Trends

Temu launched its platform in Thailand on July 31, marking its third market in Southeast Asia after the Philippines and Malaysia


Thailand authorities are tightening regulations on the bargain shopping site Temu to protect local merchants from the influx of low-priced, direct-to-consumer Chinese products, according to a media report.


Thailand

Bangkok