Alibaba.com’s new Trade Assurance for European merchants boosts security in B2B trade. Covering Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, this free service includes secure payments, real-time order tracking, and market insights. Dermaroller, an SME using Alibaba.com, praised it for providing "confidence in protected transactions." Karl Wehner, Managing Director for DACH, highlighted that German companies, especially, benefit from greater security and risk minimization in global expansion. This move emphasizes Alibaba’s commitment to European SMEs, helping them expand globally with peace of mind.

Shein, the fast-fashion giant, reported a 70% drop in profits for the first half of 2024, with earnings falling below $400M on $18B revenue. Rising competition from Temu has challenged Shein's market share, dampening growth. Revenue growth slowed to 23%, down from 40% in 2023. These setbacks complicate Shein’s plans for a London IPO, which aims to raise funds amidst investor frustration over stalled growth. Valued at $66B in 2023, Shein is now under pressure to reassure stakeholders, including major investors like Jafco Asia and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, as regulatory scrutiny mounts in the UK and other major markets.

In 2025, Shein and Temu's growth rates are forecast to drop sharply, as predicted by a Forrester report. Cited issues include quality concerns, nationalism, and rising customer acquisition costs. Recent results show Temu’s missed targets and Shein’s doubling profits, but with IPO delays for Shein and PDD reporting growth as "unsustainable," their outlook remains uncertain.

Alibaba has settled a class-action lawsuit for $433.5M in the U.S. The suit accused it of monopolistic practices. Filed in 2020, the case focused on misleading statements that allegedly impacted investors. A federal judge must approve the settlement.

Alibaba predicts double-digit sales growth for Singles' Day in Hong Kong, supported by a $142M promotion offering free shipping on Taobao orders. The three-month initiative launched on October 1, targeting key categories like electronics and fashion.

Alibaba, led by Jack Ma, is reportedly in talks to buy AC Milan from Silvio Berlusconi. Despite the speculation, Alibaba and Fininvest remain silent. Ma's group includes key Chinese brands like Taobao and Aliplay.

Alibaba’s international arm has launched a new version of its AI-powered translation tool, which it claims is superior to Google and ChatGPT. With 500K merchants using it across 15 languages, the tool is set to help sellers increase international sales.

Alibaba's 2024 Singles' Day will see $4.3B in perks for both consumers and merchants. Over 300K brands will participate on Tmall, and SMEs will benefit from $13B in cross-platform traffic and marketing subsidies.

JD Logistics will double its overseas warehouse space by 2025, growing from 10M to 20M square feet. The company aims to expand in the U.S. and Europe, with 24-hour fulfillment and increased international cargo flights.

TikTok has launched Smart+, an AI-powered advertising tool to optimize ad performance. The tool simplifies ad management, promising a 53% increase in return on ad spend. However, TikTok's legal issues in the US may impact its adoption.

A student in the UK was shocked to find a live scorpion inside her Shein parcel. With the help of her flatmates, the scorpion was safely captured and taken by animal experts. Shein conducted an investigation, confirming processes were followed.

Shein-branded outlets have appeared in several cities in Spain and the Netherlands, but they are unauthorized. Shein warns these stores aren't affiliated with the company. The situation is growing, with Shein confirming it sells products only via its official online platforms.

WeChat users can now shop on Taobao without leaving the app. This follows Alibaba allowing WeChat Pay on Taobao and Tmall marketplaces. The partnership between Tencent and Alibaba signals a significant shift in China’s digital economy, bridging two of its biggest ecosystems.

DHL Global Forwarding introduced a cross-border e-commerce solution ahead of the peak season. Offering 4-5 day delivery from China to Germany, the solution also includes customs clearance, tracking, and returns. Europe and the U.S. are key markets.

Chinese workers at Shein's fulfillment centers are sharing their difficult working conditions online. Videos show long hours, low wages, and physical strain. These gig workers reveal the price behind Shein's fast-fashion success, raising concerns about labor practices.

Alibaba commits US$142M to cover delivery fees for Hong Kong Taobao users on orders over US$14. This Q4 initiative targets key categories like fashion, electronics, and skincare, with over 800 pickup stations available.

TikTok expands its Subscription feature beyond LIVE creators, enabling non-LIVE creators to offer exclusive perks and content to their followers. The feature rolls out in select regions with plans to expand globally. Creators can choose from various tiers, offering benefits like private communication channels, exclusive content, and community identifiers. To qualify, creators need 10K followers and 100K video views in the past month. The move comes as TikTok discontinues its music subscription service, focusing on partnerships with major streaming platforms like Spotify.

Alibaba has launched over 100 new open-source AI models and introduced a text-to-video tool. The company aims to compete with giants like Baidu, Microsoft, and OpenAI. With 40M downloads of its models, Alibaba is intensifying its AI efforts.

Cainiao has expanded its local express delivery services to 10 new countries and regions. In Europe, they now offer next-day delivery for €2 and three-day delivery options for €3 to €5. Their flagship "Global 5-Day Delivery" service has also grown to 14 countries, including Europe and the U.S.

Connectly.ai, a messaging-based e-commerce platform, raised $20M in a Series B led by Alibaba. The funds will fuel growth and expansion. Connectly’s revenue is projected to hit $7M this year after growing 5x last year.

Alibaba has invested $20M in Greek-owned Connectly.ai. The startup uses AI assistants to enhance communication between retailers and customers on platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger. With this funding, Connectly.ai plans to expand globally.

AliExpress, currently 3rd in South Korea's e-commerce race, aims to capture over 50% of the market within 3-5 years. Through new marketing, a logistics center, and a no-commission policy, they hope to attract 17M users by 2028.

Alibaba.com introduces its first US credit card with Mastercard, offering 3% cashback or 60-day interest-free terms for purchases. Small businesses can benefit from these rewards, while Alibaba expands its global reach.

ByteDance's Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese sibling, saw its e-commerce GMV grow by 46% from August 2023 to July 2024. Despite facing a price war and slowing growth, Douyin outperformed major rivals Alibaba and JD.com, which saw far lower growth.

Temu, Pinduoduo's e-commerce platform, surpassed eBay with nearly 700M monthly visits. Temu saw $20B in sales in the first half of 2023 and covers 79 countries. It holds a 45% market share in the U.S., trailing only Amazon.

TikTok introduces a new AI-powered tool that lets users create a digital version of their own voice for voice-overs. Developed by parent company ByteDance, this feature is part of a broader AI push. The tool could save time and effort in content creation.

UPS will apply a $0.50 per-pound surcharge to imports from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Other countries like Japan and Australia will see a $0.25 fee per pound. The move is meant to offset rising shipping costs, especially with the surge in e-commerce from sites like Temu and Shein.

Alibaba announced it will start accepting Tencent's WeChat Pay on its e-commerce platforms, Taobao and Tmall. This breaks the "walled garden" payment rivalry between Alipay and WeChat Pay. The move comes after JD.com and Pinduoduo already allowed WeChat Pay.

Balenciaga opened its flagship store on JD.com on September 3, 2024. JD.com is now the exclusive online channel for Balenciaga’s new Stapler Sneaker. The partnership includes a wide range of collections and interest-free installments.

U.S. CPSC commissioners call for an investigation into Shein and Temu after deadly baby products were sold. The probe may impact the use of a legal loophole, de minimis, that allows cheap imports to bypass tariffs.

Chinese ecommerce giant PDD has amassed $38B, surpassing even Tesla. However, the company refuses to offer dividends or share buybacks, which caused a 31% stock drop. Concerns rise over its limited financial transparency.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is securing a $9.5B loan. Banks like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs are interested. ByteDance plans to invest in e-commerce, generative AI, and research while refinancing a $5B loan.

Meituan's revenue for Q2 reached $11.6B, exceeding expectations and marking an impressive rise from $9.5B last year. Despite China's slow economic recovery, the company benefited from delivering low-cost products. Profit margins also grew, doubling from 8.7% to 16.9%.

Shein's emissions increased by 45% to 16.7M metric tons of CO2e in 2023. The rise is linked to its ultra-fast fashion production model, which produces up to 100K pieces per day. Meanwhile, reports reveal child labor issues in its supply chain.

Shein discovered two instances of child labor between Q1 and Q3 2023 in supplier audits. The company, known for fast fashion, suspended the involved manufacturers and enforced stricter rules. No cases were found in Q4 2023.

Alibaba finished a three-year regulatory rectification after being fined $2.6B for monopolistic practices in 2021. The completion led to a 3% rise in its shares. China's SAMR guided the process, ensuring Alibaba's compliance with antitrust laws.

JD.com’s international division improves shipping services for customers in the US, Japan, and Singapore, reducing costs by up to 50%. Free delivery is now available for qualifying orders, boosting its appeal to global Chinese consumers.

PDD Holdings suffered a $55B market value loss after reporting weaker-than-expected revenue and warning about challenges in China's e-commerce. Shares fell 28%. Executives cited competition and economic woes, raising concerns among investors.

China's auto parts exports have surged due to the rise of cross-border e-commerce, with key products like bumpers and headlights seeing exponential growth. With US online penetration at 16%, the market has ample room for further expansion.

Shein has filed a lawsuit against Temu, alleging IP theft, counterfeiting, and unethical practices. The lawsuit comes as Temu expands aggressively into the US, challenging Shein's dominance. The case highlights broader concerns about labor rights, online marketplaces, and the role of Chinese e-commerce giants.

Temu launches its EU marketplace, offering no fees for sellers and taking over pricing. European retailers are encouraged to join, while Temu's local warehouses pose a new challenge to Amazon, Otto, and Kaufland.

JD.com’s Q2 profit jumped 92% to $1.7B, driven by efficient operations amid intense price wars. Revenue edged up 1.2% to $40.3B. The trade-in program and 618 sales event also boosted online retail in a sluggish economy.

China's e-commerce and courier sectors have reached a new milestone with 100 billion deliveries in 2024, driven by rapid online sales growth. However, fierce competition has squeezed profits for delivery firms, even as parcel volume and return rates soar.

Alibaba’s June quarter revenue grew 4% to $34B, below expectations, with profits dropping 29% to $3.3B. The company is focusing on boosting e-commerce and cloud services amid economic challenges. CEO Eddie Wu is optimistic about future growth.

Lazada, Alibaba’s Southeast Asian e-commerce unit, reported its first positive Ebitda in July 2024. This milestone reflects successful cost management and strategic investments. Despite tough competition, Lazada’s growth in Southeast Asia is a promising sign for Alibaba's global expansion.

China’s Cyberspace Administration approved 487 AI algorithms, including deepfake tools from Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and foreign firms like HP. This marks the second-largest batch since regulations began in January 2023.

Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion giant, withdrew 8 out of 21 tested garments after an Öko-Test study found dangerous levels of chemicals. Harmful substances like antimony and lead were detected in these products, posing serious health risks.

Douyin E-commerce's GMV reached $193B in H1 2024, missing the $206.7B target. Growth rate dipped below 30% due to low-price strategies. Merchant retention fell to 59%, impacting advertising growth. White-label products now 40% of GMV, aiming for 46% by year-end.

Alibaba is changing its fee structure, charging a 0.6% service fee from September. This shift aligns with rivals like PDD Holdings and JD.com. Alibaba’s shares rose 2.4% in the U.S. and 5% in Hong Kong after the news.

Alibaba is launching an AI-powered engine to simplify B2B sourcing. The tool, debuting in September, aims to help SMBs by providing faster and easier searches for business partners and products. The AI will enhance business deals by leveraging 25 years of expertise.