Business
Why Temu deliveries feel so fast in South Africa
Why Temu parcels seem to arrive quicker than expected
If you have ordered from Temu in South Africa, you have probably had that moment of surprise. The parcel lands far quicker than expected, especially for something travelling all the way from China. In a country where international deliveries often crawl through customs, Temu’s pace feels almost suspiciously smooth.
That speed has sparked plenty of chatter online, with South African shoppers swapping screenshots and theories on social media. Is Temu getting special treatment at customs, or has it simply cracked a system that most people do not see?
The pop-up that caused confusion
Shortly after an order leaves China, Temu prompts customers to pay import duties early, using language that suggests this will speed up customs clearance. For many shoppers, this wording raised red flags. Customs is customs, after all, and South Africans know that no amount of clicking should move a government process faster.
In a recent test order reported by MyBroadband, the local delivery leg was handled by Fastway alongside Allport Cargo Services. A payment link for duties and VAT arrived shortly after dispatch, long before the parcel touched South African soil.
What customs experts say is actually happening
According to a logistics and customs expert with over thirty years in the industry, there is no such thing as fast-track customs clearance for one company. The South African Revenue Service does not offer a special lane for individual retailers.
What Temu is really using is something far more ordinary but cleverly packaged. It is called preclearance, a process available to any qualifying logistics operator. As soon as all shipment details are available, brokers are allowed to submit customs declarations even while the parcel is still at its origin.
Paying duties early does not speed up customs itself. It simply removes the most common bottleneck that happens after clearance.
The real time saver is the last mile
In many cases, parcels sit in warehouses waiting for customers to settle import taxes. That delay can add days to delivery times. By collecting duties upfront, Temu’s courier partners do not have to pause and chase payments once the parcel clears.
This is especially effective because many brokers operate with a 30-day deferment account with customs. That means no money is immediately paid to SARS when the declaration is submitted. The early payment is about logistics efficiency, not jumping the queue.
The result is a shorter gap between customs release and the knock on your front door.
Smart systems, not special favours
Industry insiders describe Temu’s approach as a solid internal innovation rather than a regulatory privilege. Duties and VAT are pre-assessed, customers pay via a link, and couriers are ready to move the parcel the moment clearance is confirmed.
This model works best for everyday shoppers ordering smaller parcels, not for high-volume importers who operate very differently once annual imports exceed certain thresholds.
Image 1: MyBroadband
How this compares to Amazon
Interestingly, Amazon offers a similar but more polished experience for imports into South Africa from the United States. Amazon calculates all taxes at checkout. Customers pay once, upfront. If Amazon underestimates duties, it absorbs the cost. If it overestimates, it refunds the difference.
Temu’s system is slightly more manual, but the principle is the same. Remove friction after customs, and deliveries feel faster.
Why South Africans are responding so positively
In a market shaped by delayed post, long customs queues, and unpredictable delivery windows, Temu’s efficiency feels refreshing. That perception alone is powerful. Shoppers are not just buying products. They are buying certainty.
The truth is less dramatic than the rumours suggest. Temu is not bending the rules. It is simply using existing systems well and explaining them in a way that sounds more exciting than it really is.
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Source: MyBroadband
Featured Image: GLITCHED.online
