TAX ON SMALL PARCELS:REVISED LOGISTICS PLANS AND REDUCED AIRLIFT CAPACITY

Effective March 1, 2026, the new tax on cross-border e-commerce flows, designed to regulate the massive influx of small parcels, is reshaping the logistics landscape and directly impacting available capacity in the domestic market.

A DECLINE IN AIR TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND CAPACITY

Since this measure was implemented, the volume of shipments declared on French soil has plummeted by 92%, reflecting a massive pullback by international e-commerce platforms. This sudden decline is directly impacting the operations of major logistics hubs, foremost among which is Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. According to data from Aéroports de Paris (ADP), this decline in demand has already led to the cancellation of about 50 cargo flights each week.

This drastic reduction in air cargo capacity automatically limits the transport capacity available to all French shippers. This results in increased pressure on cargo space, complicating the planning of cargo flows and limiting the operational flexibility essential to the smooth flow of global trade.

WORKAROUNDS AND RISING COSTS

To circumvent this tax, major players in the sector are adapting their distribution models by rerouting their shipments to neighboring European hubs such as Belgium, the Netherlands, or Eastern Europe before transporting the packages to France by land. This situation underscores the concerns raised when the tax was announced: shipments have been redirected, not reduced.

This shift in geographic location results in additional operational costs due to longer road transport routes and an increase in transshipments. Companies must now contend with higher transportation costs and more complex cross-border customs procedures.

However, a new EU-wide tax on small parcels is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, thereby involving all member states in this initiative. 

Our experts at Balguerie Group continue to support you by providing logistics solutions tailored to your needs.