Southeast Asia has always been a hotspot for cross-border e-commerce, attracting numerous sellers due to its large population base, growing consumer demand, and increasing internet penetration. However, the region recently seems to have entered a turbulent period. What has plunged this vibrant area into such chaos? Is it political disputes, economic difficulties, or external interference?

According to a report from Manila (Associated Press), tropical storm “Enteng” brought severe rainfall to the Philippines on Monday, September 2, causing flooding in several northern regions of the country. E-commerce platforms such as Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada have adjusted their delivery schedules due to the logistical disruptions caused by the bad weather.

In addition, heavy rains have triggered floods and landslides in various parts of Thailand, with Pattaya submerged and resembling “Venice.” The floods have affected more than 430,000 rai across multiple provinces, causing widespread damage.

The Southeast Asian region faces various issues such as political instability, natural disasters, frequent policy changes, and security concerns. Its complex and diverse geographical environment presents numerous challenges for cross-border sellers.

One of the most significant challenges in logistics is the instability of delivery times, which has severely impacted the cross-border e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia. In this rapidly developing e-commerce era, consumers have increasingly high expectations for fast delivery. However, logistical timeliness in Southeast Asia is often difficult to guarantee, leading to poor shopping experiences for consumers. Over time, this could result in consumers losing trust in cross-border e-commerce platforms and turning to local shopping channels instead.

To address these challenges, stocking goods in overseas warehouses in advance has become a wise choice. When customers place an order, the goods can be shipped directly from the overseas warehouse and usually delivered to the customer in a shorter time, avoiding the long distances and complex processes of international shipping, thus significantly reducing delivery time.