Pinduoduo, the Chinese e-commerce platform operated by PDD Holdings, has lowered its free shipping threshold for several markets including Singapore. According to KrASIA and Lianhe Zaobao, the minimum purchase amount to qualify for free shipping has been reduced from RMB 99 (approximately USD 14.8 or SGD 3) to simply one item, regardless of its price.
This policy change, effective as of August 16, aims to make the platform more attractive to international consumers by easing access to free shipping. It may also reflect Pinduoduo’s efforts to expand its global presence through its overseas brand Temu, which targets markets outside China.
For Japanese investors and traders, this move highlights the increasing competitiveness of Chinese e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asian markets, an area of growing interest amid regional supply chain diversification and digital commerce expansion.