60% of Canadians now shop at Chinese marketplaces — and 1 in 10 do so weekly

Chinese marketplaces have officially arrived in Canada.

According to Omnisend’s latest survey, 60% of Canadians have shopped on a Chinese marketplace like Temu, Shein, or AliExpress in 2025. That’s up from 55% last year. And while most aren’t doing it daily, the frequency is rising fast: 10.3% now shop there at least once a week, and over a third say they’ve used more than one of these platforms.

Temu is leading the charge, but Shein and AliExpress are riding the same wave. The data points to a clear shift: these platforms are becoming part of everyday online shopping in Canada.

Quick-glance findings

Here’s what stood out from the August 2025 survey:

• 60% of Canadians now shop at Chinese marketplaces — up from 55% in 2024
• 10.3% do so weekly
• Temu leads at 51.95% (up from 39.26% in 2024)
• Shein follows at 37.84% (up from 34.64%)
• AliExpress sits at 30.28% (slightly down from 32.19%)
• Temu is now the second most visited shopping site in Canada, behind only Amazon
• Shein ranks second among Canadian fashion and apparel sites, just behind The Gap

Temu pulls ahead

Temu has rapidly become Canada’s go-to marketplace, with more than half of Canadians (51.95%) saying they’ve shopped there in the past year. Its growth from 39% last year makes it one of the fastest-climbing platforms in the country.

As Marty Bauer, Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend, explains: “These marketplaces are no longer fringe players. Temu is now the second most visited shopping website in Canada, just behind Amazon, and over 52% of Canadians say they’ve shopped there in the past year. Its rapid growth has also raised the visibility of other Chinese marketplaces, putting pressure on both local retailers and global giants.”

Shein makes fashion gains

Shein continues to gain ground as a fashion go-to. In 2025, 37.84% of Canadians say they’ve shopped on Shein, up from 34.64% in 2024.

It’s now the second most visited fashion and apparel website in Canada, just behind The Gap.

Weekly and monthly usage are also climbing:

• 7.49% shop Shein weekly
• 18.77% shop monthly
• 1.36% are daily shoppers

These numbers may not match Temu’s scale, but they signal that Shein is no longer a niche fashion brand — it’s mainstream.

Marketplace habits are shifting

The survey also highlights changing frequency of use:

As Bauer notes: “While daily usage remains relatively low, the real growth is happening in monthly and weekly shopping patterns. This isn’t a passing trend — these platforms are becoming a regular part of consumers’ shopping routines.”

What this means for Canadian retailers

The rise of Temu, Shein, and AliExpress puts new pressure on Canadian retailers — particularly smaller ecommerce brands.

“Chinese marketplaces are raising the bar on pricing and convenience, which makes competing harder for smaller ecommerce brands,” says Marty. “But local businesses have an opportunity to win on speed, service, and brand trust.”

Marty also points to the importance of smart marketing: “Platforms like Omnisend help brands automate and personalize their email, SMS, push notifications, reviews, and more — saving time and improving customer engagement without big marketing teams.”

Final takeaway

Temu, Shein, and AliExpress are no longer the disruptors, but a part of the landscape. With 6 in 10 Canadians shopping on at least one Chinese marketplace, and weekly use rising, the expectations for convenience and value are shifting in real time.

Canadian brands may not be able to out-discount global platforms, but they can still stand out. Shoppers are forming new habits, but loyalty hasn’t been locked in yet. So by leaning into speed, service, brand connection, and smarter marketing, Canadian businesses can still hold ground against the ultra-low-cost competition.