The status “arrived at the Shein hub in France” marks the passage of your package through an intermediate sorting center located on French territory, usually near a major airport or freight platform. This is not an insignificant step: since the tax and customs reforms of 2026, this checkpoint concentrates operations that lengthen or complicate the subsequent delivery process.
Taxes and customs clearance at the Shein hub: what changed in 2026
Since March 1, 2026, France applies a tax of around €2 per item on packages imported from outside the EU. Shein, Temu, AliExpress: all players in ultra-fast fashion shipping from China are affected. Specifically, when your tracking shows “arrived at the hub,” the package may be held while the tax is assessed and billed before being handed over to the final carrier.
The second change occurs on July 1, 2026, with the European Union’s removal of the customs duty exemption for shipments valued under €150. For Shein packages shipped from China, this translates to a flat fee of €3 per category of item, plus about €2 in processing fees per package, in addition to VAT.
When a package is arrived at the Shein hub in France, it may therefore undergo a calculation and collection step for these duties that did not exist before.
We observe that these fees are not always transparently reflected in the initial order summary. The amount may appear as a surcharge at the time of customs clearance, or even temporarily block the release of the package.
Actual delay between hub status in France and final delivery
The French hub is not the last link. After sorting, the package is redirected to a local depot, then to your pickup point or address. The passage through the hub does not mean that delivery is imminent.
Before the customs reforms, transit at the hub generally took one to three days. Since March 2026, additional checks related to the new taxes have lengthened this timeframe. Customer feedback reports packages remaining in the status “arrived at the hub” for several days while the tax formalities are finalized.
The next status in tracking is usually “in transit” or “on the way,” indicating that the package has left the hub to join the local carrier’s network. As long as this status does not appear, the package is physically held at the sorting center.
Factors that extend the stay at the hub
- Orders containing multiple items from different categories: the calculation of flat fees by category complicates customs processing.
- Peak periods (sales, Black Friday, holidays): hubs become saturated and customs clearance lines mechanically lengthen.
- Incomplete information on the shipping declaration: a discrepancy between the declared value and the actual value can trigger a thorough inspection.
Stuck status at the Shein hub: when to react
A status frozen for more than five business days at the hub justifies action. Before this timeframe, delays are mostly explained by the customs clearance operations described above.
First check: consult the tracking number directly on the final carrier’s website (Colissimo, Mondial Relay, Relais Colis depending on the destination). Shein hands the package over to a local provider after the hub, and the Shein tracking may not update in real-time once the handover is made.
If the carrier’s tracking does not return any information, the package is likely still undergoing customs processing. Contact Shein customer service, specifying your order number and the date when the hub status appeared. We recommend keeping a timestamped screenshot of the tracking: it will serve as proof in case of a claim or refund request.
What Shein does not automatically notify
There may be additional customs fees required before the package is released, without Shein sending a notification by email or through the app. Regularly check your customer area and the carrier tracking for any potential requests for additional payment.
The local carrier may also contact you directly (SMS, email) to request the additional duties before proceeding with delivery. If you do not respond within the allotted time, the package will be returned.
Shein hub in France and European warehouse: two different circuits
Shein stocks part of its catalog in warehouses located in Europe. Items shipped from these warehouses do not go through a customs clearance hub and are not subject to the new import taxes. The status “arrived at the hub” exclusively concerns international shipments shipped from China.
To distinguish between the two circuits before placing an order, check the estimated delivery time on the product page. A short timeframe (a few days) generally indicates a shipment from a European warehouse. A timeframe of ten days or more points to an international shipment, which will therefore pass through the French hub and be subject to customs duties.
This distinction has a direct impact on the final price. An item listed at the same price may cost significantly more if shipped from China, once taxes and processing fees are added at the hub. The price displayed on Shein does not always include post-hub customs duties.
The increase in checks at the French hub reflects a tightening of regulations that will not ease. Before confirming a Shein order, checking the shipping origin of each item remains the most reliable way to anticipate additional costs and delays related to passing through the sorting center.