Chinese marketplaces are deepening their foothold in Canada, reshaping consumer habits and raising questions about the future of domestic retail. A recent survey commissioned by ecommerce platform Omnisend found that 60 percent of Canadians reported shopping at Temu, Shein, AliExpress or other Chinese marketplaces in 2025, up from 55 percent the year before.
The findings illustrate a growing dependence on these platforms, which have drawn millions of Canadian consumers with low prices, a broad assortment of products, and aggressive digital marketing. Even more striking, more than one in ten Canadians now say they shop on such platforms at least weekly.
Marty Bauer, an ecommerce expert at Omnisend, said in the study that, “These marketplaces are no longer fringe players. Temu is now the second most visited shopping website in Canada, just behind Amazon, and over 52 percent of Canadians say they’ve shopped there in the past year.”
Temu, owned by Chinese giant PDD Holdings, has quickly become a household name in Canada. The platform is not only luring occasional bargain hunters but cultivating a base of repeat customers. According to the Omnisend survey, 51.95 percent of Canadians reported shopping on Temu in 2025, up sharply from 39.26 percent in 2024.
That growth reflects a broader international surge by Temu, which has spent heavily on advertising, sponsorships, and discount-driven promotions. For Canadian shoppers contending with higher living costs, its offers of inexpensive household goods, apparel, and gadgets present an appealing alternative to domestic retailers.
The survey revealed that nearly 10 percent of Canadians are shopping on Temu at least once a week, while more than a quarter reported monthly visits. This kind of frequency signals not just curiosity but adoption as part of a regular shopping routine.
Shein and AliExpress Sustain Growth
While Temu leads, rivals are hardly standing still. Shein, the fast-fashion behemoth known for its rapidly shifting inventory, drew 37.84 percent of Canadian shoppers in 2025, up slightly from 34.64 percent the year before. That incremental growth has nevertheless positioned Shein as the second most visited fashion and apparel website in the country, behind only Gap.
AliExpress, the Alibaba-owned platform, also retained a notable share of the market, with 30.28 percent of Canadians saying they had used it in 2025. Although the figure dipped slightly from the prior year, the platform continues to attract value-driven buyers across categories, particularly in electronics and small goods.
Across all three, usage patterns indicate that while daily shopping remains rare, weekly and monthly transactions are climbing. Shein reported nearly 7.5 percent of Canadians using it weekly, while AliExpress counted 6.9 percent in that category.
Shifting Habits in Canadian Retail
The rising reliance on Chinese marketplaces in Canada underscores a significant shift in shopping behaviour. Once peripheral options, these platforms now serve as mainstream alternatives to brick-and-mortar stores, domestic ecommerce outlets, and even multinational giants.
“While daily usage remains relatively low, the real growth is happening in monthly and weekly shopping patterns,” Bauer noted. “This isn’t a passing trend—these platforms are becoming a regular part of consumers’ shopping routines”.
For Canadian households navigating inflation and sluggish wage growth, marketplaces such as Temu and Shein deliver affordability in a way that traditional retailers cannot easily replicate. Yet this growth also raises concerns about sustainability, quality, and the long-term viability of domestic brands.
Implications for Local Businesses
The expansion of Chinese marketplaces in Canada presents a direct challenge to local retailers. These platforms leverage vast supply chains, economies of scale, and aggressive pricing models that are difficult for small and mid-sized Canadian businesses to match.
“Chinese marketplaces are raising the bar on pricing and convenience, which makes competing harder for smaller ecommerce brands,” Bauer said in the report. “But local businesses have an opportunity to win on speed, service, and brand trust”.
Canadian companies, particularly small businesses, may need to rethink their strategies to remain competitive. Areas such as faster delivery, personalized service, and local brand loyalty are potential avenues for differentiation.
The Role of Ecommerce Tools
Omnisend, which commissioned the study, argues that technology can help smaller players fight back. The company positions itself as a platform that automates and personalizes email, SMS, push notifications, and customer reviews. According to Bauer, such tools can help Canadian retailers save time, enhance customer engagement, and build loyalty without the expense of large marketing departments.
Platforms like Omnisend highlight how the battle against Chinese marketplaces may not be fought on price alone. Instead, success may depend on building stronger relationships with customers and offering services that massive platforms cannot easily replicate.
A Global Context
The Canadian experience is not unique. The Omnisend survey, conducted in August 2025, polled 4,000 respondents across four countries, including 1,000 in Canada. The findings point to a global surge in the popularity of Chinese marketplaces, with similar growth seen in Europe and the United States.
Still, Canada represents a particularly fertile market given its highly connected population, urban density, and rising cost-of-living pressures. Consumers who might have traditionally sought out bargains in local discount chains are increasingly comfortable buying online from global suppliers.
I ordered a couple of things from Shein and Temu when they first entered the Canadian market but was disappointed with the quality which was equivalent or lower than what I could get at the dollar store. Quality is more important to me than price. I keep things I like forever. I’ve been shopping secondhand for household items, clothing and furniture all my life, not just to save money but because I find better quality items at thrift stores. Case in point is a pure wool hand knit vintage 70s cardigan from Norway I just picked up for $7.50. I’m not adverse to buying from a higher end brand like Max Mara either if I find a piece I like on sale.