(ECNS) -- Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform DHgate rocketed to No. 2 on the U.S. app store's free iPhone apps chart on Tuesday, trailing only ChatGPT.
As of Monday, DHgate ranked second in the overall U.S. app store free apps ranking, ahead of Taobao at eighth place, according to Apple's public data. In the shopping category, DHgate, Taobao, and fast-fashion giant SHEIN claimed the top three positions.
Data released by Appfigures shows DHgate's rapid ascent began on Saturday, when its U.S. downloads spiked 56% from its 30-day average to 35,400. By Sunday, U.S. installs on iOS alone surged 940% to 65,100, pushing the app to sixth place. It climbed to third on Monday before securing second place on Tuesday.
The momentum extends beyond the U.S., with DHgate currently ranking second in Canada's App Store and fourth in Australia's.
The download spike can be attributed to a wave of TikTok videos from Chinese merchants explaining how luxury goods, including clothes, bags, and ornaments, which are often perceived as European-made, are actually produced in Chinese factories. Many videos included direct links to DHgate listings, triggering a surge in traffic.
The trend coincides with renewed U.S.-China trade tensions. On Friday, DHgate announced a "Tariff Protection Plan," pledging that the increase of freight for goods without postage will not exceed 20% or the increase of total freight price will not exceed 20 yuan per kilogram.
"A tariff barrier is a challenge, and it is also a great opportunity for businesses to optimize the supply chain and deepen brand value and service," it said.
Founded in 2004, DHgate is a business-to-business e-commerce platform based in China, serving 77 million registered buyers across 225 countries with over 33 million product listings.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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