Shein shares drop in Hong Kong debut as EU tariffs hit European sales

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9 days · 6 summary articles
Shein’s shares fell as much as 10% in their Hong Kong trading debut on Tuesday, dropping to 43.80 Hong Kong dollars shortly after the opening bell before closing at 48.50 Hong Kong dollars. The Chinese-Singaporean fast-fashion retailer raised approximately 13.6 billion Hong Kong dollars (€1.46 billion) through the initial public offering, valuing the company at around 26 billion U.S. dollars .
The valuation marks a sharp decline from Shein’s peak in 2022, when it was estimated at nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars. Analysts cited regulatory hurdles, geopolitical tensions, and shifting market conditions as factors complicating the IPO. The European Union’s introduction of a 3 euro tariff per item on non-EU shipments valued under 150 euros in July contributed to a 45% drop in daily user activity from European countries, according to Reuters .
Shein, originally planning to list in New York or London, faced regulatory obstacles that led to its Hong Kong debut. The company, known for ultra-low prices and rapid production cycles, reported a 2025 annual profit of 2.06 billion U.S. dollars but recorded a quarterly loss of 99 million U.S. dollars after the U.S. revoked tariff exemptions on clothing imports. France also implemented new rules on Tuesday to significantly increase the cost of ultra-fast-fashion items .
The IPO’s underperformance contrasts with recent high-profile debuts in Hong Kong, such as memory chip maker CXMT and humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree, whose shares surged 466% and 629%, respectively. Shein’s final valuation now places it roughly on par with Swedish fashion retailer H&M .
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