AliExpress has halted several shipping options to Pakistan following new customs tax reforms that have blocked access to cheaper cross-border delivery routes. The change, which comes from regulatory actions by Pakistani and Sri Lankan customs authorities, is expected to significantly disrupt e-commerce activity.
In a message to sellers, AliExpress confirmed that it has started offline processing for destination routes including Pakistan and Sri Lanka, citing the lack of clarity around new tax requirements. While specific details of the customs changes have not been made public, the consequences are already being felt on the ground.
Pakistani buyers will no longer be able to choose the previously available budget-friendly shipping options when placing orders on AliExpress. From next week, on July 7, 2025, sellers will also be restricted from selecting these routes for processing logistics orders and shipping declarations.
The move follows what appears to be a crackdown by Pakistani customs on heavily discounted shipping services, such as AliExpress Standard Shipping and Cainiao, which have long fueled the appeal of Chinese e-shopping websites in the Pakistani market. This allowed consumers to buy electronics, accessories, and household goods for just a few dollars with little to no shipping fees. That era, it seems, is now on pause — if not over.
AliExpress has advised sellers to monitor the situation for further updates and revise their shipping templates accordingly. While there is no confirmed timeline for when, or if, affected logistics routes will resume, unless customs rules are clarified or softened, the disruption could become long-term.