The European footprint of TikTok Shop is about to expand again. Recently, multiple sources have indicated that TikTok is making intensive preparations to enter the Polish, Dutch, and Belgian markets, marking its e-commerce business in Europe is about to expand from the current six countries to nine.

 

Image source:Ecommerce News - Europe

Three new markets emerge

This move was first hinted at in job postings released by TikTok. ByteDance is forming a team called the “Strategic Preparedness Team,” whose core task is to ensure that TikTok Shop’s e-commerce business in Europe can “expand responsibly and sustainably.” Their work is very specific—conducting a comprehensive survey of e-commerce policies, digital economy, and market regulation in various European countries, with the current focus on Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while the Nordic countries are also included in the subsequent scope of investigation.

At the same time, TikTok is also recruiting Client Solutions Managers in multiple markets. According to the job requirements, candidates must be proficient in Spanish, Dutch, or Polish to communicate effectively with local sellers and service providers. This is a very clear signal: TikTok Shop has already established itself in the Spanish market, and the next step is to officially enter the Dutch and Polish markets.

 

Image source:Ecommerce News - Europe

European social e-commerce is “accelerating”

TikTok’s decision to accelerate its expansion in Europe at this time is backed by the ongoing trend of increasing penetration of social e-commerce in the European market.

According to existing data, TikTok Shop’s performance in the UK market is quite impressive—more and more British consumers are starting to buy high-value goods on the platform. In Germany, TikTok Shop has only been online for a year, but already 15% of consumers have made purchases on the platform. Looking at Europe as a whole, TikTok’s monthly active users in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and Japan have exceeded 200 million, and the overall scale is now basically on par with the US market.

There’s an even bigger cake ahead. In 2025, the total retail market size of the UK, four EU countries, and Japan will be about $4.68 trillion, with e-commerce accounting for $770 billion. Although TikTok Shop currently only accounts for about 3.8% of the European e-commerce market, its growth rate is as high as 190%. During last summer’s major promotion, the daily GMV of self-operated merchants in the four EU countries soared by more than 200%, and the GMV of fully managed merchants in the UK increased by more than 600%.

 

Image source: Internet

Not just opening stores, but also “taking root”

It should be pointed out that TikTok Shop’s goal in Europe is not just to open stores in more countries. Judging from a series of actions, the platform is shifting from “traffic-driven” to “infrastructure-driven.”

TikTok is building a more complete e-commerce infrastructure in Europe. Reportedly, the platform has launched the “Fulfilled by TikTok” logistics service for Asian sellers, covering a warehousing network in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

This means that sellers can achieve local delivery in Europe, greatly improving fulfillment efficiency and user experience. At the same time, the platform is continuously optimizing seller commission policies, compliance systems, and influencer marketing ecosystems to pave the way for large-scale expansion.

 

Image source: Internet

With the addition of Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, the number of countries where TikTok Shop operates in Europe will increase from 6 to 9. This express train of social e-commerce is accelerating towards more corners of the European continent. For cross-border sellers, getting familiar with the rules and consumer habits of these new markets in advance may be the first step to seizing the initiative.