Temu launches first warehouse in South Africa

Zuko Komisa

Chinese e-commerce behemoth Temu has officially launched a local warehouse in South Africa, dramatically cutting down delivery times for South African shoppers.

This strategic move marks a significant shift in the local online retail landscape, promising to transform the shopping experience for millions.

Previously, South African customers faced weeks-long waits for products shipped directly from China.

Now, items marked as “local” can be delivered from Temu’s new South African facility within two days, with many even arriving the very next day.

According to Temu, the benefits of this new local warehouse are twofold:

Accelerated Delivery: With items dispatched from within South Africa, customers can now receive their orders in as little as 24 hours, a stark contrast to previous international shipping times.
Expanded Product Range: The introduction of local warehousing enables Temu to offer a wider selection of products, including bulkier categories like furniture and homeware, which were previously impractical to ship internationally.

Temu’s investment in local infrastructure is set to intensify competition within the South African e-commerce market, offering consumers unparalleled speed and product accessibility.