Where Does Temu Ship From? A Complete Breakdown for Dropshippers

Quick Answer:
Temu ships primarily from China, using air freight to deliver orders to countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Most products are dispatched from Chinese warehouses or consolidation hubs and then handed off to local couriers like USPS or Evri for final delivery. While some returns may go to US-based warehouses, the vast majority of orders are shipped directly from Chinese suppliers.

If you’re running a dropshipping store – or even just starting one – you’ve probably heard a lot about Temu by now.

It’s everywhere.

From TikTok hauls to “insane deal” YouTube reviews, Temu’s low prices and flashy ads have caught serious attention. But behind all the buzz is a question that keeps coming up:

Quick Summary: Where Does Temu Ship From?

Here’s a quick snapshot before we dive deeper:

Bottom line: 95% of Temu orders are shipped straight from China.

Now let’s look at what that means in detail – especially if you’re in the dropshipping game.

What Is Temu & How Does Its Shipping Model Work?

Temu is a Chinese-owned eCommerce marketplace that connects global consumers with manufacturers and third-party sellers – mainly based in mainland China. Think of it as a Chinese Amazon, but with AliExpress-level pricing.

The platform is owned by PDD Holdings, the same company behind Pinduoduo – a major Chinese eCommerce player known for low-cost supply chains and bulk purchasing discounts.

What sets Temu apart is how it handles logistics:

• Orders are collected from Chinese sellers and packed at regional consolidation hubs (usually around Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Yiwu).
• They’re shipped via air cargo to destinations like the US, UK, or Europe.
• After landing, last-mile delivery is handled by local partners like USPS (US), Evri (UK), or La Poste (France).

This model isn’t new. Shein, AliExpress, and even Wish use similar systems.

But Temu’s massive scale and subsidies let it keep shipping free on almost every order – even if it takes 7 to 15 days.

How Long Does Shipping from Temu Take?

Shipping times will vary depending on:

• Your country
• The product’s warehouse
• Customs delays
• Holidays or promotions

But here’s a general delivery time breakdown:

I’ve personally ordered from Temu a few times to test this. My US orders arrived in 9 and 12 days, respectively. In both cases, I got regular tracking updates – starting from China and ending with USPS.

For dropshippers, this gives us one big insight: Temu is training consumers to be OK with 1 to 2-week delivery times. That’s very similar to AliExpress, CJ Dropshipping, and other common suppliers.

Why Temu Shipping Matters for Dropshippers

Temu isn’t just another shopping app. It’s a direct competitor to a huge part of the dropshipping model – especially those relying on AliExpress or low-cost Chinese suppliers.

Let me break down why that matters:

1. Customers Can Order the Same Product for Less

Many of the products sold by Temu sellers come from the same factories as those listed on AliExpress or used by fulfillment agents.

The big difference?

Temu eats the shipping cost and often sells products at or below wholesale prices, especially during promotions.

2. You’re Competing With Temu on Speed and Price

Temu’s 7 to 15-day shipping model looks almost identical to many standard AliExpress ePacket sellers. And if customers are already comfortable with the wait time, they might not feel the need to pay more from your store unless:

• You offer better branding or product bundling
• You target niche segments that Temu isn’t prioritizing
• You focus on high-ticket or personalised items

3. They’re Improving Logistics Fast

Temu’s parent company, PDD Holdings, has invested over $1 billion into global logistics infrastructure in the past 18 months. While most orders still ship from China, the company is slowly rolling out regional hubs and return centers in the US, UK, and EU.

Right now, those are mostly used for refunds and fast-moving stock. But the long-term aim is clear – faster shipping to compete with Amazon.

Is Temu a Good Supplier for Dropshippers?

This one’s easy: No, Temu is not built for dropshipping.

Here’s why:

Temu doesn’t allow you to resell products under your own store name. You also don’t get packaging control, inventory sync, or consistent restocking – all of which are essential when managing a dropshipping store.

If anything, Temu is a litmus test.

It tells you which product categories are hot, what pricing ranges are converting, and what kinds of listings are performing well.

As a dropshipper, you can treat Temu like a product research tool – not a supplier.

What Kind of Shipping Labels Does Temu Use?

This part is interesting if you care about transparency with your customers.

Temu usually uses standard international shipping labels printed in Chinese and English. Here’s what I’ve noticed across multiple orders:

• Labels include a “Yanwen” or “4PX” shipping code (both are Chinese logistics providers).
• Tracking starts in China and shows export scans before reaching your country’s postal system.
• Return address on the package often points to a US-based warehouse (for example, in New Jersey or California), even though the product is coming from China.

So if your customers receive a Temu product, it’s clear from the packaging that it’s imported – there’s no masking where it came from.

This might matter if you’re running a store where product origin, branding, or sustainability messaging is a big part of your offer.

How Temu Compares to Other Fulfillment Models

Here’s a side-by-side view to help you compare Temu shipping with other popular dropshipping options:

Temu has the edge in price and sometimes in logistics – but lacks the flexibility or control that dropshippers need.

Should Dropshippers Be Worried About Temu?

I’ll be honest – it depends on your niche.

If your store sells low-cost, commoditized products (like gadgets, kitchen accessories, or pet toys), yes – Temu is direct competition.

But if you’re building a brand, using custom packaging, bundling products, or targeting very specific customer avatars, then you’ve still got a solid edge.

Here’s how I recommend navigating it:

Use Temu to Validate Product Demand

You can search Temu by keyword or category and see what’s selling well. High-review counts, trending listings, and consistent availability tell you what’s hot.

Then, instead of dropshipping directly from Temu, look for private-label versions or suppliers who can:

• Offer custom packaging
• Shorten delivery times
• Give you control over inventory

Differentiate With Value, Not Just Price

You can’t beat Temu on price. But you can win with:

• Product education
• Offers and bundles
• Niche-specific solutions
• Brand storytelling
• Influencer UGC or customer reviews

Your store doesn’t need to be the cheapest – it needs to be worth it.

Final Thoughts: Where Does Temu Ship From?

So, where does Temu ship from?

Almost always from China, using air cargo and Chinese logistics companies to reach international customers. Some US- or EU-based fulfillment exists, but it’s rare – and mostly used for returns or high-volume SKUs.

For dropshippers, Temu is more of a market signal than a logistics partner. It tells us where demand is moving and what consumers are starting to expect – in terms of price, shipping, and product variety.

It’s not a supplier. It’s not a platform to source from.

But it’s definitely a platform to study – and prepare for.

If you’re serious about building a long-term dropshipping business, focus on branding, fulfilment speed, and customer experience. That’s the real way to stand out.