Since early July, most European airports have been handling significantly fewer e-commerce shipments compared to the months before. The reason for this slowdown is the EU’s decision to abolish the duty-free threshold for small shipments under €150 from non-EU countries. Instead, Brussels is imposing a flat customs duty of €3 per product category.
This is a transitional rule that will become mandatory in mid-2028. While most EU countries have implemented the €3 customs fee, other member states are hesitating, including several Eastern European countries; this discrepancy has already led to a shift in supply chains toward Romania and some of its neighboring states.
In 2025 alone, 5.9 billion low-value items in packages from third countries flooded the EU market without paying customs duties. Every day, more than 16 million packages are cleared by customs for consumers in the EU. The new regulation is intended to help ensure fair conditions for EU businesses and confident choices for consumers—in response to the surge of billions of low-value e-commerce goods entering the EU. Maros Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, explains the new customs rules as follows: “Open market, level playing field. The EU e-commerce market remains open—but this must not come at the expense of European consumers and businesses. Goods imported into the Union should meet the same standards of compliance and traceability as goods sold in our single market. Platforms and sellers that profit from European consumers must adhere to the same rules as European companies.”
… only to a minor extent
When asked how the new customs regulations have affected the handling of small shipments at Munich Airport since 01JUL2026, Head of Cargo Markus Heinelt offered an initial assessment: “Munich Airport’s existing e-commerce business has also been affected by this contraction, though only to a minor extent compared to other eCom hubs. Since the beginning of July, we’ve seen a 3.9% decrease in tonnage on the main routes from Asia, which is primarily attributable to e-commerce.” The executive went on to say: “However, our share of exports to Asia rose by just under 10.8% during this period, bringing the total tonnage on our direct flights to and from Asia in July to a 2.1% increase. The figures indicate a more balanced trade flow between China and central Europe whereas the imbalance was significantly greater just a few months ago. The coming months will show whether this trend will continue.
Looking ahead, he believes that the current dip in imports of small shipments into the EU will level off again after a transitional and stabilization phase, and that the flow of small parcels will pick up once more.
At the same time, Heinelt points out that the cargo business in Munich is broadly diversified and that e-commerce represents only one of several pillars. “With approximately 386 weekly long-haul flights to around 51 destinations worldwide, we recorded an overall tonnage increase of just under 4.7% in July. Cumulatively from January to date, we are up by approximately 4.5%,” he concludes.
Hub of belly cargo
Provided, the global economic situation remains moderately stable, MUC Cargo expects further growth in tonnage over the coming months driven by the extraordinarily strong cargo catchment area that stretches from the southern parts of Germany across Austria, the Czech Republic, the Balkan countries through northern Italy. Heinelt points out that in the months ahead, the number of long-haul passenger flights will increase, which will lead to additional lower deck capacity on offer to the market and cement MUC’s role as hub for belly cargo. With the start of the winter schedule at the end of October, Lufthansa will increase its long-haul services to Mexico, Johannesburg, and São Paulo by adding two weekly frequenciesto each of these routes. Simultaneously, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways are increasing their service from daily to 10 flights per week to and from MUC.
Heinelt points out that the airport expects another Asian carrier to serve MUC including additional freighter services, but does not reveal any names yet.
LH and MUC benefit from long-term commitment
Munich Airport has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lufthansa aimed at mutual growth, including plans for a terminal expansion through 2035. A key factor will be the expansion of Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet in Munich. The agreement lays the strategic groundwork for further growth in air traffic, benefitting passengers and cargo clients alike.
“The partnership with Lufthansa enables us to significantly strengthen and expand the international hub. It is a milestone in the development of the airport hub,”, states Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport. Market observers believe that in addition to enhanced passenger services, the Munich-Lufthansa pact will have a positive impact on medium- and long-term cargo growth. Markus Heinelt takes a similar view: “With our current innovation projects, such as Apron AI and autonomous freight transport, we aim to ensure that we remain the ‘gateway to growth’ with the fastest cargo processes among European cargo hubs.”
