EU Import Costs Are Rising: How to Combine Korea Direct Shipping with a Netherlands Warehouse

New EU import charges add to the cost of fulfilling Korean beauty orders. For single-item orders with a low order value, even a few extra euros can reduce the profit left after product costs, shipping, platform fees and marketing.

Sellers therefore need to revisit their order costs and decide whether to absorb the increase, adjust their prices or change how selected products are shipped.

One option is to stock products with consistent sales in Europe and dispatch them locally when orders arrive, while new products and less frequently ordered variants continue to ship from Korea.

But which products are worth stocking, and how many units of each shade should be sent? The answer depends on both the costs and actual sales.

What do the new charges add to a Korea-to-EU order?

Since 1 July 2026, eligible imported parcels valued at no more than €150 have been subject to a temporary €3 customs duty per chargeable item category. Several identical products in one parcel may count as one item for this purpose, while different categories may create several chargeable items.

From 1 November 2026, eligible ecommerce parcels also attract a €2 Union Handling Fee per distinct item. This handling fee also covers eligible parcels worth more than €150. Existing VAT charges remain payable.

Sellers ultimately need to decide who bears that cost. Absorbing it reduces profit; adding it to the product price or shipping charge means considering whether customers will accept the final price.

The treatment of an actual shipment still depends on its customs classification, evidence of origin and declaration arrangements.

Sources: European Commission EU Customs Reform and Irish Revenue’s Union Handling Fee guidance.

Could a different shipping setup ease the pressure on each order?

When orders ship individually from Korea, the applicable import charges arise on each incoming parcel. For products that sell repeatedly, there is another option to evaluate: move a batch to Europe first, then dispatch individual customer orders locally.

With K-Dropshipping’s Netherlands warehouse, selected goods are shipped together, imported and received into stock before customer orders are fulfilled. Subsequent EU deliveries do not cross the EU border again as individual parcels from Korea, so those direct-import charges are not repeated on every local dispatch.

The seller needs to pay for batch transport, import and stock in advance, while judging whether the goods can sell within the planned timeframe.

What costs would each route involve for the same batch of products, and what problems might arise when stocking several shades?

Comparing the costs of 50 foundation orders across 10 shades

Assume a store plans to fulfil 50 foundation orders delivered to the Netherlands, with one item per order across 10 shades. The seller can dispatch each order from Korea as it comes in, or stock all 50 units in the Netherlands beforehand. The comparison uses the same quantity and destination, then considers how that stock should be allocated.

The example uses the following assumptions:

50 foundations across 10 shades, with each shade managed as a separate SKU.

An estimated packed weight of 0.3 kg per item.

All 50 units arrive at the Netherlands warehouse in one carton.

The goods fulfil 50 domestic orders, all within the selected delivery service’s coverage.

Actual quotations require confirmation of packaging dimensions, billable weight and product acceptance on the route.

Shipping each order from Korea

Fifty orders create 50 international parcels. If each parcel contains one chargeable item and attracts both the €3 duty and €2 handling fee, these two charges total €250.

The €250 sits alongside international transport and the other applicable costs. If a shipping quote already includes any import charges, check its scope before adding them again.

Stocking the Netherlands warehouse and delivering locally

Under the supplied warehouse rate sheet, the following charges apply when the goods meet the relevant billable-weight limits and standard handling conditions.

The listed items average approximately €4.53 per order. The SKU-type surcharge is additional and needs to be confirmed for the inbound order.

The calculation also needs batch transport from Korea to the Netherlands, applicable import taxes, clearance service fees, GOFO’s variable energy surcharge, and any additional packaging or storage beyond 30 days.

The €3.99 rate is the base fare for eligible deliveries within the Netherlands. Deliveries to other EU countries require the appropriate destination quote.

Complete both cost calculations, then assess the profit

The €250 for Korea direct shipping covers two import charges. The €226.50 warehouse subtotal covers selected warehouse operations and local delivery. They pay for different stages, so subtracting one from the other would not show a saving.

Once actual quotes are available, assess whether advance stock makes sense against the selling price, profit per order and expected sales period. Beyond cost, consider whether local delivery suits the target market and whether the cash committed to stock can be recovered in time.

Once the costs are clear, how should the 10 shades be stocked?

Basic warehouse operations may not be the biggest obstacle. In this example, unloading, shelving and outbound handling total €27. The harder decision is which shades should receive the 50 units of stock. The same quantity supports very different numbers of orders per shade as the range expands.

At two units per shade, two orders can exhaust a popular colour. Increasing stock across the whole range, however, can leave less popular shades sitting in storage.

The seller can end up holding inventory in Europe without having the shade customers want. Those orders still need to ship from Korea or wait for replenishment.

Lipstick has the same issue: a range may contain dozens of shades, and strong sales for the range do not mean stable demand for every colour. Even within a single product category, numerous variants and unpredictable demand per SKU can make stocking the entire range in Europe impractical. For general-merchandise sellers with a scattered assortment who continually test new products, stocking everything in advance is harder still.

The Netherlands warehouse can fulfil selected repeat sellers locally, while the remaining assortment continues to ship from Korea.

Stock popular shades in the Netherlands and keep long-tail variants on Korea direct shipping

Review orders at SKU level before choosing the stock list. Which shades sell consistently, which are bought occasionally, and which still have too little history to support a forecast? Total sales for a product family will not answer those questions.

If a foundation comes in more than 20 shades but orders repeatedly concentrate on a few, start by costing Netherlands stock for those shades. The rest can continue to ship from Korea.

Stock quantities do not need to be equal. Use sales by shade, the time needed for the next shipment to reach the warehouse and the investment the business can afford to determine quantities. Adjust them as sales develop: increase stock for variants with stable demand and reduce replenishment for those selling more slowly, so European inventory follows actual orders.

K-Dropshipping connects Korean purchasing with its Netherlands warehouse

Once the stock list is agreed, Korean purchasing, outbound preparation and Netherlands receiving need to work as one sequence. K-Dropshipping directly coordinates inbound bookings, barcode standards and carton requirements with its own Netherlands warehouse. Sellers do not need to collect those requirements separately and relay them between providers.

The seller confirms the products, SKUs and quantities, and K-Dropshipping coordinates the corresponding preparation in Korea and warehouse intake in the Netherlands.

For foundation, lipstick and other products with multiple variants, check shades, capacities and formats such as full-size products and refills before dispatch. SKUs and barcodes must match the actual goods, and carton records must reflect the quantity in each box. Any agreed batch, expiry-date and labelling requirements should also be met before the goods leave Korea.

These preparations help the warehouse identify, shelve and pick the right products. Items remaining on Korea direct shipping continue to be sourced and fulfilled against actual orders.

Use your order history to plan the next shipment

Higher EU import charges mean sellers need to review profit per order and can use the opportunity to adjust how selected products ship. Products with stable demand can be assessed for Netherlands stock, while new products, low-frequency items and long-tail variants retain the flexibility of Korea direct shipping.

To assess a shipment, send K-Dropshipping the product links or list, quantities by SKU, packed weight and dimensions, destination markets and recent order distribution. Actual quotes can then guide which products move to the Netherlands and which continue to ship from Korea.