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.

Shein is investing $270.5M in Europe over 5 years. $54.1M is for R&D. The $216.4M fund targets sustainability and recycling tech. This shift could reduce reliance on China and improve Shein's image before a potential London IPO.

Experts criticize TikTok Lite for lacking safety features present in the main app. A report by Mozilla and AI Forensics highlights missing content labels and controls, labeling the app a "safety hazard." TikTok refutes the claims.

Alibaba offers a global free shipping plan for clothing merchants on Taobao and Tmall. This move aims to boost overseas sales and compete with Shein and Temu. Qualified merchants can ship to Asia markets, with Alibaba handling logistics.

Shein, known for its clothing, now sells Xiaomi smartphones. Prices range from $392 for a Redmi Note 12S to $1,232 for a Xiaomi 14 5G, which are higher than other stores. Consumers are advised to shop elsewhere for better deals.

TikTok ad spend growth slowed from 19% in March to 6% in May 2024. Total ad spend from January to May 2024 reached $1.5B, up 11% from 2023. Weekly users aged 18-24 dropped from 35% in 2022 to 25% in 2024. Engagement remains strong.

Alibaba’s Taobao now sends more traffic to Ele.me via a homepage portal, enhancing “instant commerce.” This follows reports of a potential Ele.me sale, which Alibaba denied. The move aims to align with Alibaba’s “user-first” strategy.

JD.com enhances Jingxi platform for budget shoppers in small towns. The platform saw over 1M orders in the first 4 hours of the 618 festival. The move aims to rival PDD’s success in low-price markets.

Shein and Temu's global success in fast fashion caused a 40% increase in air cargo rates from China in June. The rise in rates is unusual for this time of year and is impacting other businesses needing to ship goods. Prepare for a busy pre-holiday season.

AliExpress opens a new distribution center in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center, covering 80 square meters. The center will serve several hundred recipients, with more planned if successful, aiming to improve delivery standards.

AliExpress has denied involvement in M&A talks with Homeplus. Local media suggested MBK Partners considered AliExpress a potential buyer for Homeplus Express. AliExpress Korea stated their priority is consumer rights and local seller support.

Alibaba denied the rumors of selling its Lazada Thailand unit. They continue to invest in Lazada, spending $7.4B so far. Alibaba is expanding globally amid an economic slowdown at home, with a 60% revenue rise in the International Digital Commerce Group.

Shein partners with NTX to use AI for faster fashion production. New designs can be launched in 7 days, with delivery in 5 days. The eco-friendly Cooltrans technology reduces environmental impact and speeds up the entire process.

Yoox Net-A-Porter is exiting China to focus on more profitable markets amid weak consumer spending. This move highlights a trend where luxury retailers face challenges in China due to shifting consumer behaviors.

Alibaba expands globally with "Alibaba Guaranteed," enhancing procurement transparency, payments, and dispute resolution for US and European small businesses. The platform saw a tripling in buyers and $50B in transactions, fueled by demand for automotive parts and sports products.

Shein increased prices by 28% on average for dresses in the U.S. This move is part of their strategy to boost revenue ahead of their IPO. External brands like Skechers are also driving higher prices.

New survey shows 34% of shoppers buy from Temu monthly, outpacing eBay's 29%. Temu’s aggressive marketing, including Super Bowl ads, pays off. 63% of consumers shop Chinese platforms annually. Despite low trust, Temu's value draws customers.

AliExpress is giving away $2.4M in rewards for UEFA EURO 2024 fans. Users can win tickets, smartphones, and coupons via the 'Shake & Win' competition. The event runs from 14 June to 14 July with offline events across Germany.

ByteDance is in talks to raise up to $800M for Dongchedi from HongShan, KKR, and General Atlantic. HongShan will likely contribute up to $500M. Dongchedi saw 33.6M visits in April, surpassing AutoHome.com.cn's 30M.

Alibaba.com has launched Alibaba Guaranteed, a service ensuring fixed prices, included shipping fees, and guaranteed delivery dates for cross-border trade. This aims to simplify the global sourcing process for SMBs, offering faster dispatch and robust after-sales services.

JD.com partners with Inditex to launch Massimo Dutti’s flagship store on June 3rd. The store will feature nearly 1,000 exclusive items, just in time for JD’s 618 Grand Promotion. China’s vast digital consumer base can now access premium fashion.

Shein's resale platform is now in Europe. Starting in France, it will expand to the UK and Germany. This follows its successful US launch in 2022, with 4.2M users joining in 2023. Shein aims to boost circular fashion with this expansion.

TikTok is set to lay off a significant number of employees in its operations and marketing teams worldwide. The layoffs, affecting user support, communications, content, and marketing teams, were announced by senior executives. Approximately 1,000 employees may be impacted.

Alibaba invested $230M into Lazada, totaling $7.7B since 2016. This is its first investment this year. In 2023, Alibaba invested $1.8B. The investment supports Lazada’s low-cost strategy to compete with Temu and Shein.

TikTok is testing 60-minute videos, available to select users. This follows a trend of increasing video lengths, from 10 minutes to now an hour. TikTok is aiming to offer longer, YouTube-like content while boosting engagement and monetization.

AI companies in China, like Silicon Intelligence, offer digital avatars to help mourners talk to deceased loved ones. This technology has become more affordable, with prices dropping from $2,000 to a few hundred dollars. Ethical and emotional debates continue.

Shein's promise to improve conditions remains unfulfilled. Workers still face 75-hour weeks and low wages. Audits reveal persistent issues, raising questions about Shein's commitment to change.

Alibaba's DingTalk launched a marketplace with 200+ AI agents. The AI Assistant now handles images, videos, and 500-page texts. 2.2M companies used DingTalk AI, benefiting SaaS businesses and developers.

JD.com introduces an AI clone of CEO Liu Qiangdong for livestream shopping, powered by ChatRhino, aiming to share lifestyle insights.

Suzhou's new plan will ramp up its e-commerce to $20.7B by 2026, attracting global projects and building a robust digital infrastructure.

With a hefty 10 billion yuan ($1.44B USD) in subsidies, Alibaba's AliExpress aims to boost Chinese brand presence globally, countering rivals like Temu and Shein.

Shein's profits hit a new high of $2 billion, doubling its earnings and selling $45 billion in goods. As it expands, facing Temu and IPO challenges, Shein's market strategy evolves beyond fashion.

Alibaba teams up with Space Epoch, eyeing to deliver parcels globally within an hour using XZY-1 rocket. This innovative venture, although ambitious, showcases Alibaba's relentless pursuit of enhancing logistics amidst stiff competition.

Alibaba decided to scrap Cainiao's IPO, eyeing to acquire the remaining 36% for $3.75B, valuing Cainiao at $10.3B. Amid China's tech downturn, Alibaba bets big on logistics.

JD.com's Spring Dawn Initiative, since its January 2023 launch, has introduced AI tools slashing operational costs by 50%, enhancing content creation, customer service, and live streaming services, multiplying merchant numbers by 4.3x.

Alibaba overhauls compensation, introducing "long-term cash" alongside stock options for employees, aiming to improve motivation as its stock value dips. Efforts to revive the company include leadership changes and AI investments, with a special focus on boosting the morale of its vast workforce.

JD.com's focus on affordability leads to a 3.6% revenue rise to $43.1B in Q4, alongside a strategic $3B share buyback plan and a robust net income growth.

Shein, the fast-fashion behemoth, is flirting with London for its IPO, leaving New York's stringent scrutiny in the rearview. This strategic pivot could ignite London's IPO scene, especially after a dire year for debuts.

Moonshot AI's recent $1B funding round, led by Alibaba and HongShan, marks the largest single financing for a Chinese AI startup since the generative AI funding surge began. Valued at $2.5B, Moonshot released its chatbot Kimi in October 2023, setting a new precedent in AI development.

Despite a revenue rise to $36.6B, Alibaba's quarter reveals deep cuts with a 69% net income plunge and a troubled new retail venture. The Chinese giant's struggle reflects in offloading physical stores amid fierce e-commerce battles and economic downturns.

Alibaba eyes core e-commerce, tech ventures, offloading Intime and Freshippo amid a strategic overhaul. The pivot aligns with tightened IPO scrutiny in China.

Alibaba's Xianyu, an online platform for second-hand goods, is launching its first physical store. The Xianyu Recycle Shop, located in Hangzhou, will provide a convenient space for customers to sell or buy various used items. Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming highlights this move as part of the company's strategic innovations.

Alibaba co-founders Jack Ma and Joe Tsai demonstrate their confidence in Alibaba, buying over $200M in shares. This move, amid the company's recent struggles, signals a strong belief in its recovery and future growth, which was well received by stock markets (8%). Pity I haven't bought my shares...

Shein's marketplace is bustling with big-name brands, but there's a catch: many, like Hoka and Paul Smith, are gray-market goods. They're genuine but sold without brand authorization. This practice, while not illegal, clashes with brand equity and may affect Shein's brand partnerships.

🇨🇳 JD launches global express delivery service, expanding to 23 countries. 🇨🇳 JD Logistics, the powerhouse behind Chinese e-commerce giant JD, debuts its international express service, elevating global logistics. Initially covering North America and Europe, the service leverages six logistic networks and introduces a proprietary ChatGPT model, ChatJD.

🇨🇳 Baidu Retreats from Joyy Deal. Chinese tech giant Baidu abandons its $3.6B plan to acquire Joyy's livestreaming business, YY Live. Amid unmet conditions and regulatory uncertainties, the significant deal falls through. Joyy seeks legal counsel in response.

🇨🇳 JD wins €93.6M antimonopoly lawsuit against Alibaba. The lawsuit came about because Alibaba forced retailers on its brand platform Tmall not to also offer their products on JD.com.