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Chinese retail company Alibaba introduces “Hungary surcharge” on all orders shipped to Hungary – UPDATE
Hungarian customers buying through Alibaba’s global B2B marketplace have begun noticing an unexpected extra charge at checkout: a new 4.5% “Hungary surcharge” added to every order delivered to Hungary.
The fee, which appears as a separate line on invoices, has raised eyebrows among business buyers who rely on the Chinese platform to source everything from small tools to large custom-built machinery.
Extra cost appears on invoices
The issue first came to light after a Hungarian entrepreneur, a regular Alibaba user, spotted the new item labelled Hungary Surcharge on multiple recent purchases, Telex reports.
At 4.5% of the order value, the cost may be barely noticeable on small transactions. However, for larger equipment orders requiring deposits of several thousand dollars, the additional charge can quickly add up to a significant sum, and must be paid upfront in full.
Alibaba primarily serves business-to-business (B2B) customers rather than retail shoppers, connecting international buyers with low-cost Chinese manufacturers.
Why many buyers use Alibaba
For Hungarian companies, the platform often provides an extra layer of security compared with dealing directly with overseas suppliers.
When purchases are made through Alibaba, payments are handled via the platform rather than sent straight to the seller. Alibaba offers dispute resolution and consumer protection services, stepping in if products do not match agreements or shipments go wrong.
By contrast, resolving conflicts directly with Chinese sellers can be difficult, particularly when legal action would require navigating China’s court system. Some sellers also use Hong Kong or Singapore bank accounts, which may further complicate matters.
Alibaba: fee linked to Hungarian regulations
In a notice published on its website, Alibaba states that the surcharge was introduced due to “changes in the Hungarian government’s regulatory framework for e-commerce platforms”.
According to the company, the fee took effect on 16 September 2025 and applies to:
- all online transaction orders
- all product categories
- any shipment address within Hungary
Alibaba stresses that the charge is not VAT. Hungary’s standard 27% VAT continues to apply separately.
Instead, the company describes the surcharge as an additional platform fee meant to cover compliance-related costs and ensure it can continue operating in Hungary.
So, our Politicians admit the policy raises retailer costs, but insist it shouldn’t be framed as an extra fee? Legally, it’s a retail tax on companies. However, this does not preclude that customers end up on the hook through higher prices, fewer promos, or reduced service. Alibaba just adds it as a line item (nice and transparent – exactly what our Politicians do not like).
The fair competition argument is … What it is. At the end of the day, our Politicians imposed a cost increase and consumers end up paying it when they chose an online retailer.
Have your cake and eat it, too?