In 2025, the Southeast Asian e-commerce market is seeing dramatic changes!
Indonesia to limit the import of low-priced goods, Thailand to strengthen customs clearance checks, Vietnam to cancel the small tax-free policy ...... At the same time, TikTok Shop will Southeast Asia cross-border order fulfillment time limit compressed from 120 hours to 72 hours, sellers have ushered in a race against the time of the “battle of life and death! Sellers ushered in a “life-and-death battle” with the race against time.
In this examination, the overseas warehouse has become the key to break the game. Data show that the use of overseas warehouse sellers logistics efficiency by 70%, cost reduction of 10% -30%, the average order conversion rate increased by 20%!
I. Survival challenges under the policy tightening
1. Surging tax and compliance costs
Philippines: 12% VAT on cross-border goods
Indonesia: 100%-200% guaranteed tariffs on 7 categories of goods
Thailand: cross-border sellers are required to file VAT numbers and inspect 100% of Chinese goods.
The traditional direct mail mode faces the risk of customs clearance delays and fines, and soaring compliance costs force sellers to look for a new way out.
2. The game of logistics time and cost
Southeast Asia's logistics infrastructure is weak, distribution in remote areas is difficult, and cross-border direct mail takes 7-10 days on average. However, 80% of consumers expect “same day delivery” or “next day delivery” (Lazada data), the high cost of air transportation, sea transportation and can not catch up with the time, sellers are in a dilemma.
3. Policies force market upgrades
TikTok Shop, Shopee and other platforms have tightened their logistics assessment, and 72-hour fulfillment has become a hard target.
Indonesian consumers are 85% satisfied with orders delivered within 3 days, and the return rate of orders delayed by more than 5 days soared to 40%
Malaysia adds 10% sales tax on low-priced goods, Thailand mandates e-invoicing
Under the double pressure of compliance cost + logistics time, overseas warehouse becomes the optimal solution!
Second, the third-party overseas warehouse of the way to break the game
1. Localization compliance to avoid policy risks
✅ Prepare goods to overseas warehouse in advance to avoid high tariffs and customs clearance delays.
✅ Customs clearance in batches to reduce tax risks.
✅ In-depth interpretation of policies by local team to ensure compliance.
2. Extremely fast delivery to improve the consumer experience
