Customers utilizing logistics services in ordering Christmas gifts complain about the rising shipping cost and delayed delivery during the holiday season, according to the latest survey of Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the world’s largest express transportation companies.

Conducted in September 2025, the survey gathered insights from 850 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 850 consumers across 13 APAC markets, along with over 1,200 SMEs across 9 European markets, the survey said delayed deliveries (55 percent) and elevated shipping costs (45 percent) are the primary pain points from previous seasons, underscoring the need for e-tailers to optimize logistics performance and customer experience.

These concerns directly impact purchasing decisions, as more than half of APAC consumers indicate that lower shipping costs (53 percent) and faster delivery times (50 percent) would increase their likelihood of buying from European sellers.

Businesses in both regions are stepping up to meet rising customer expectations, in which the survey said nearly one-third of APAC (29 percent) and European (33 percent) businesses are enhancing their fulfillment and delivery operations to better support cross-border demand, while over one-third (34 percent) of APAC and (32 percent) of European firms are strengthening their customer service capabilities.

Meanwhile, 85 percent of businesses in both APAC and Europe say they are confident about meeting delivery deadlines during this year’s holiday season.

Despite this, the survey findings reveal strong optimism, with over 70 percent of APAC businesses and over 80 percent of European businesses expecting better holiday sales compared to last year.

APAC businesses are already gearing up for robust cross-border demand from Europe during the year-end shopping season, with many beginning preparations as early as September.

Cross-border e-commerce and major online shopping festivals continue to fuel demand.

This year, 88 percent of APAC consumers plan to conduct at least a quarter of their holiday shopping online, and 53 percent intend to increase their online activity compared to last year.

“In Asia Pacific, the festive gifting season stretches well beyond Christmas and into Lunar New Year, creating one of the world’s most dynamic windows for cross-border commerce,” said Salil Chari, senior vice president, marketing and customer experience, of FedEx Asia Pacific.