Chinese marketplaces in Canada are rapidly becoming part of everyday consumer shopping habits, according to new survey data that shows widespread adoption and increasing purchase frequency among Canadian consumers.
A new study commissioned by ecommerce marketing platform Omnisend found that 73 percent of Canadians reported shopping on at least one Chinese marketplace, including Temu, Shein, or AliExpress, within the past year. The findings suggest that platforms once viewed primarily as discount destinations are evolving into routine shopping channels for many consumers.
The research also shows that usage frequency is rising across these platforms, with monthly and weekly shopping activity steadily increasing over the past two years.
Temu Leads Growth in Canadian Marketplace Usage
Among the platforms examined in the survey, Temu continues to see the strongest growth in Canadian adoption.
According to the data, 56.5 percent of Canadians shopped on Temu in 2026, up from 51.9 percent in 2025 and 39.3 percent in 2024. Shopping frequency on the platform is also rising. About 29.1 percent of Canadians now shop on Temu at least monthly, compared with 25.7 percent in 2025 and 20.5 percent in 2024.
Weekly usage has also increased. Ten percent of Canadians now report shopping on Temu at least once a week, up from 6.5 percent in 2024.
These figures indicate that Chinese marketplaces in Canada are increasingly shifting from occasional browsing destinations to platforms where consumers regularly complete purchases.
Shein Also Expands Canadian Consumer Reach
Shein is also gaining traction among Canadian shoppers, though at a slower pace than Temu.
The survey found that 40.9 percent of Canadians shopped on Shein in 2026, compared with 37.8 percent in 2025 and 34.7 percent in 2024. While annual usage continues to rise, the data suggests that Shein’s growth trajectory is more gradual.
Nevertheless, the platform is also seeing higher levels of repeat engagement among consumers.
“These marketplaces are no longer occasional discount options – they’re becoming embedded in everyday shopping behavior,” said Marty Bauer, ecommerce expert at Omnisend. “The biggest shift isn’t just how many Canadians have tried them. It’s how often they’re returning on a monthly and weekly basis.”
Increasing Frequency Signals Habit Formation
While annual participation rates illustrate the breadth of consumer adoption, frequency of shopping offers a clearer view of how these platforms are becoming integrated into everyday purchasing behaviour.
Between 2024 and 2026, weekly shopping on Temu increased from 6.5 percent to 10 percent. Shein saw weekly usage rise from 6.5 percent to 7.4 percent over the same period.
Many Canadians still report shopping on these platforms every few months. However, even this group is expanding. Temu’s “every few months” usage increased from 8.4 percent in 2024 to 13.5 percent in 2026, while Shein’s grew from 7.8 percent to 10.1 percent.
“What we’re seeing is habit formation,” Bauer said. “Consumers might start with occasional purchases, but over time these platforms are becoming part of their default shopping rotation.”
Competitive Implications for Canadian Retailers
The continued growth of Chinese marketplaces in Canada presents increasing competitive pressure for domestic ecommerce brands.
These international platforms compete aggressively on price and assortment, often offering large product selections at highly competitive price points. However, Bauer said Canadian retailers still maintain several important competitive advantages.
“Chinese marketplaces compete aggressively on price and assortment,” Bauer said. “But Canadian retailers still have strong competitive levers – faster domestic shipping, easier returns, localized customer support, and brand trust.”
According to Omnisend, retailers can strengthen their position by focusing on customer retention strategies that build direct relationships with shoppers. Clear delivery timelines and transparent return policies can also help build consumer confidence.
The report also highlights the value of strong post purchase communication through email and SMS, loyalty programs that reward repeat purchases, and personalization strategies designed to improve the overall shopping experience.
“When shoppers are splitting their budgets across more platforms, retention becomes critical,” Bauer added. “Brands that build direct relationships with customers – instead of relying solely on paid acquisition – will be in a stronger position long term.”
Survey Methodology
The survey was commissioned by Omnisend and conducted by Cint in June 2024, August 2025, and February 2026. Each year, 1,000 Canadians were surveyed using the same set of questions to evaluate consumer shopping habits on Chinese ecommerce platforms. Quotas were applied for age, gender, and geography to ensure national representation.
About Omnisend
Omnisend is an email and SMS marketing platform designed to help ecommerce businesses grow their online sales. The platform integrates with major ecommerce systems and provides automation tools, email templates, and customer support aimed at helping brands manage marketing communications and customer engagement.
I was one of those early adopters of Temu and there was a time I was making purchases every other week, sometimes a few times a day! They have games that entice you to spend and their return policy was the best of any company! Back then, you could send a video or picture of the reason for the return and they would refund you, AND let you keep the items! They also gave you a timeline of when you could expect delivery of your purchase and if it was late by one day, you’d get a $5 refund. You could go and do price adjustments easily. They had the perfect system to entice and keep your business! Now, things are a bit more strict (and pricey) and I have since moved on, but they remain a contender in retail!