Singapore’s Shipping Shockwave: Why Taobao Budgets’re Getting a Bit Tight
Meet Caitlyn Cheng, 27, tech analyst and one‑woman Taobao spree‑king. After eight years of dutifully devouring clothes, gadgets, and sundry household stuff from China via the famous e‑commerce giant, she noticed that the dreaded shipping fee had finally spun off the “just a few bucks” bandwagon.
“I’m up around 30‑40 % more for shipping overall,” Caitlyn confides. “I’ve had to start giving more thought before I hit ‘buy.’ Especially with pricey or chunky items.”
Her strategy? Sea freight whenever she can. It’s cheaper than the air route and the price scales with weight. But the road to cheaper shipping has been bumpy.
vPost’s Sea‑Ship Shutdown
Just a few weeks back, the freight forwarder vPost – Singapore Post’s overseas arm – announced that it would halt its China sea‐freight service and all “Indonesia‑to‑Singapore” routes from Aug 24. A big cost-cutting move amid freight rate hacking.
Singapore Post tried to offer more affordable shipping by bundling discounts earlier that year, but a fuel surcharge introduced in July slapped a surprising extra burden on customers.
“We had to make a tough call to suspend these low‑demand services rather than let the sky‑rocket prices bleed our customers’ wallets,” a SingPost spokesperson stated. “The impact is minimal.”
Who’s Pushing the Prices Up?
- Bernard Chan, director at Penanshin Air Express, recalls the pandemic’s freight climb: CTN to LA (2021) was 10× 2019 rates, now ~4× pre‑COVID. Same with Shanghai shipments, jumping from 15× to ~5×.
- Bala Thangavalu, sales manager at The National Forwarder, notes the 3× surge to Colombo airroom in July, still high.
Freight to Chinese hubs Shanghai & Qingdao were roughly 2× early this year, climbing to 2.5× now. That’s a stubborn climb due to supply‑side hiccups.
Supply‑Chain Crack‑Ups Shrinkin the Gap?
Prof Goh Puay Guan argues that the freight boom stems from demand outpacing supply—particularly after COVID’s economic rebounds, locks, and ship‑port bottlenecks.
Extra costs come from higher fuel and labour rates, Divay Goel from Prudent Shipping Investments points out.
They Still Pay The Premium (Because Shiny Things Come From Far)
Ms Michelle Ng, 32, business manager, still finds overseas musings cheaper than local. She ships from Taobao every two months—fashion pieces, new apartment furniture—and pays $1‑$1.50/kg for air, and about $10 extra per cubic metre for sea vs pre‑COVID rates.
Looking Ahead: A Bit of Relief?
Expect the freight turmoil to ease—Prof Goh warns, “Bottlenecks easing, capacities catching up.”
Yet, experts say a full return to pre‑COVID prices is unlikely soon. Goel predicts 10 %+ higher rates lingering.
What It Means for the Average Mate
- Think twice before sending a bulk order—sea can save pennies, but it’s slower.
- Keep an eye on promotions. Bundled savings occasionally pop up, but the fuel surcharge fans the flame.
- Accept that the “$1 extra/kg” ceiling on airway is here to stay for a while.
In short: you can still shop overseas, but the price tag has sharpened. Stay savvy, compare rates, and keep that budgeting high‑five for every Taobao purchase!
