€510m risk: Balearics shops face online platform hit
Shops across the Balearics could see up to €510 million in sales diverted by 2030, the region’s retail association has warned. The estimate targets large online platforms based outside the European Union, which Afedeco says compete on unequal terms with local businesses. The Palma-based group issued its call for tougher action on 31 August.
Afedeco puts the possible loss at €420 million to €510 million, using the Balearics’ roughly 1.9 per cent share of Spain’s retail trade. It stresses that the figure is an indicative estimate and needs a study focused specifically on the islands.
The calculation follows research by Análisis Económico Integral for Anged, which says such platforms could divert €22,000 million to €27,000 million from established retailers across Spain by 2030. It also puts the potential employment impact at up to 94,500 jobs.
Rules and costs under scrutiny
Afedeco president Joana Manresa said the association is not attacking internet shopping or consumer choice. Its complaint is that Balearic shops operate under demanding rules while many non-EU platforms do not, in practice, carry equivalent costs and duties.
Those sellers are formally required to meet European rules, Manresa said. But she argued that checks on millions of parcels and products fall far short, leaving firms that follow the rules at a disadvantage.
Afedeco also points to labour, environmental and sustainability standards at the source of goods. Different production and delivery models can affect costs and the ability to compete on price, it says.
5,900 million low-value parcels
Around 5,900 million low-value consignments entered the European Union in 2025, according to Afedeco. That was more than 25 per cent higher than the previous year, with more than 90 per cent coming from countries including China.
The volume makes it far harder for authorities to check every item for safety, labelling, traceability and consumer protection, the association says. Afedeco wants stronger customs controls, better inspections, full product traceability and effective accountability for the platforms.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com