Temu Significantly Cuts US Advertising Spend, Shifts Focus to Meta and Pinterest
Due to US tariff policies and the elimination of the tax exemption threshold, Temu has significantly reduced its advertising expenditures on X, YouTube, and TikTok, reallocating its budget to focus on Meta and Pinterest, indicating an optimization of customer acquisition costs and channel efficiency.
What are the key facts?
- 1Spending Change: X platform ad spend down 95%
- 2Channel Adjustment: YouTube and TikTok spend cut by 74%
- 3Primary Focus: Shift towards Pinterest and Meta
What happened?
Affected by the US's elimination of the $800 tax exemption threshold and increased tariffs, Temu has dramatically reduced its advertising spend in the US market in the first five months of 2026, with spending on X decreasing by 95%, and spending on YouTube and TikTok each cut by 74%.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Temu's strategic adjustment reflects the cost pressures faced by cross-border e-commerce in the US. Sellers should pay attention to shifts in platform traffic acquisition methods and evaluate their marketing ROI across different channels.