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AsianFin -- Amid mounting concerns that U.S. retailers could raise prices due to new tariffs on Chinese imports, American consumers are flocking to Chinese e-commerce apps in search of more affordable alternatives.
Apps like DHgate and Taobao have surged in popularity, with both now ranking among the top five free apps on the U.S. iOS App Store.
The rise of these apps comes as a wave of TikTok videos from Chinese manufacturers has gone viral, which reveals the inner workings of the global luxury goods market.
The videos claim that many products from top European luxury brands—such as handbags, shoes, and accessories—are actually produced in China.
According to these videos, the items are then shipped to their brand's home countries, like Italy or France, where they are repackaged and labeled as high-end goods before being sold at significant markups.
As these videos gained traction, TikTok influencers and other creators began pointing to e-commerce apps like DHgate and Taobao as ways for consumers to bypass the luxury brand markup and purchase directly from Chinese manufacturers.
Already wary of rising prices on popular apps like Shein and Temu, U.S. consumers quickly began downloading these alternatives.
Taobao saw an explosive increase in downloads, with around 185,000 installs in April—representing a 514% rise compared to the previous month, according to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures.
The app's installs surged dramatically over the weekend, increasing 5.7 times between Friday and Saturday.
By Saturday, Taobao had cracked the Top 500 overall rankings on the U.S. iOS App Store, and by Sunday, it climbed to No. 188. By Thursday, the app reached No. 5, a significant jump in just a few days. The app's growth was mirrored in the shopping category, where Taobao leaped from No. 49 to No. 2, surpassing Walmart, Amazon, Shein, and Temu.
Notably, Taobao's appearance in the U.S. App Store's top overall rankings is unprecedented—Appfigures data shows that the app has never ranked this high in the U.S. since tracking began in 2017.
The rise of Taobao, along with the surge in DHgate's popularity, highlights the growing trend of U.S. shoppers seeking out Chinese e-commerce platforms as a way to combat higher prices resulting from tariffs. While switching to these shopping apps may not fully shield U.S. consumers from tariffs, many shoppers believe they can still secure a better deal by buying directly from the manufacturers, bypassing the hefty retail markup.
For some consumers, these apps offer a way to find luxury-style goods or "dupes" at a fraction of the cost, though experts caution that quality can vary widely on these platforms. Shoppers are advised to carefully check seller reviews and photos before making a purchase.
DHgate, the Beijing-based e-commerce platform, has seen similar success, ranking as the second-most downloaded free app in the U.S. App Store on Wednesday, just behind ChatGPT, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The app's rise can be attributed to viral TikTok videos from Chinese manufacturers explaining how they supply global luxury brands, fueling U.S. consumers' curiosity.
The app was downloaded 35,400 times across iOS and Android on April 12, a 56% increase from its 30-day average. Of those downloads, 17,300 were from the U.S., marking a 98% rise from the previous month. On April 13, the app's iOS downloads soared to 117,500, up 732%, with U.S. installs reaching 65,100—a massive 940% increase.
DHgate, also known as "Dunhuang" in Chinese and nicknamed the "Little Yellow App," has gained widespread attention for its direct-to-consumer model, offering competitive prices on products previously only available through high-end retail outlets.
This trend is reflective of a broader shift in U.S. consumer behavior, where rising tariffs are driving more Americans to seek out affordable alternatives to traditional retail channels.
The surge in app downloads shows that Chinese e-commerce platforms like DHgate and Taobao are capitalizing on this demand for cheaper products, positioning themselves as viable alternatives in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
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