DHgate Rises in US App Charts Amid Trade War

TikTok Trend Drives Surge in DHgate App Downloads

A recent surge in popularity on TikTok, fueled by discussions surrounding U.S. trade policies, has propelled the Chinese e-commerce platform DHgate to prominence within the U.S. App Store.

The Impact of Increased Tariffs

Following a 145% increase in U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, a wave of videos emerged on TikTok. These videos, created by Chinese suppliers and manufacturers, aimed to educate consumers about the realities of the global luxury goods market.

The content highlighted that many items perceived as originating from Europe – including clothing, handbags, and accessories – are, in fact, manufactured in Chinese factories.

DHgate's Rapid Ascent in App Store Rankings

As a direct consequence of this viral trend, DHgate experienced a significant increase in downloads and app store ranking. By Monday morning, it had climbed to the No. 3 position among the top free iPhone apps in the U.S.

Prior to this surge, on Friday, April 11, the app held the No. 352 ranking in the free, non-game iPhone app category. This improved to No. 6 on Sunday and ultimately No. 3 on Monday, according to data provided by Appfigures.

DHgate also reached No. 3 on the Top Overall chart for free iPhone apps, encompassing both games and non-game applications.

Download Statistics Reveal Dramatic Growth

TechCrunch reports that on Saturday, April 12, the DHgate app recorded 35,400 downloads across both the App Store and Google Play. This represents a 56% increase compared to its typical 30-day average.

The U.S. market accounted for 17,300 of these installs, a substantial 98% increase over the 30-day average.

Installations further escalated on Sunday, April 13, reaching 117,500 on iOS – a remarkable 732% increase from the 30-day average. U.S. downloads specifically totaled 65,100, marking a 940% increase. (Android download figures for Sunday are currently unavailable.)

About DHgate

DHgate functions as a cross-border e-commerce platform, connecting businesses and individual consumers with suppliers and manufacturers based in China and other international markets.

The platform currently boasts an inventory exceeding 30 million products, spanning categories such as electronics, home goods, toys, apparel, jewelry, health, and beauty products.

The Viral Trend and Consumer Awareness

The increased demand for DHgate stemmed from the TikTok trend where Chinese manufacturers began disclosing insights into the production of luxury goods to the American public.

Subsequently, other online content creators began informing their audiences that DHgate provides access to luxury items prior to official branding and labeling by established brands.

Distinguishing between original factories contracted by luxury brands and those producing replicas, often referred to as "dupes," can be challenging for consumers. However, online communities, such as the r/DHgate subreddit, can sometimes offer guidance.

Revealing the Origins of Luxury Goods

A widely circulated TikTok video featured a Chinese manufacturer asserting that the majority of the world’s luxury handbags are produced in China. These bags are then shipped to European factories for labeling and repackaging, creating the impression of being “made in Italy” or “made in France.”

Another video, from the same creator (@senbags2), detailed that a Birkin bag, typically priced at $38,000, can be manufactured for approximately $1,400, with the majority of the cost attributed to the brand logo and packaging. (This account has since been removed, but numerous copies of the video remain available.)

Brands Respond to Claims

Additional videos focused on luxury categories like clothing and jewelry. Brands including Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lululemon, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, and Hugo Boss were mentioned. Hermès, among others, issued statements denying manufacturing in China.

The central message of these videos emphasizes the extent of U.S. dependence on China, even for products perceived as high-end European goods.

This extends beyond fast fashion and inexpensive electronics commonly found on platforms like Shein or TikTok Shop.

Implications for the Trade War

While DHgate may not offer a direct solution to circumventing Trump’s tariffs – as most Chinese imports to the U.S. remain subject to tariffs – the videos were a response to the recent tariff increases.

As one TikTok user commented, the situation reflects a perceived U.S. attempt to control the trade war, to which China responded by asserting, “We make all the cards.”

A similar app, Taobao, also saw increased attention, reaching the No. 10 position on the overall free iPhone app chart on Monday.