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Nearly 96% of e-commerce leaders expect international order volume to rise in Q4 compared to 2024, according to Peak Season 2025 Playbook: Data-Backed Strategies to Drive Profit and Customer Loyalty, released by Passport Global Inc. in partnership with Drive Research.
“As our findings show, the stakes are higher than ever this peak season,” says Alex Yancher, co-founder and CEO of Passport. “Brands aren’t just fighting tariffs—they’re racing against time, customer expectations, and margin pressure. Passport exists to close that execution gap with the infrastructure and expertise brands need to grow confidently.”
Key takeaways:
- Seven in eight brands (87%) have already raised U.S. prices to offset tariffs, underscoring how trade pressures are reshaping consumer pricing strategies.
- 99% say tariffs and trade shifts are directly influencing their peak planning, with 81% citing a significant impact on costs and operations.
- Only 31% of leaders are “extremely confident” in their ability to execute cross-border fulfillment, despite most having started planning by mid-year.
- 57% rank fast and reliable delivery as their No. 1 goal this season, ahead of cost reduction or even margin improvement.
- 41% identified shipping costs as a top focus area, with many exploring in-country fulfillment as a way to boost speed and profitability.
- 37% say customer satisfaction is their most important KPI, proving that loyalty and experience remain as critical as cost.
- Another report, Winning the U.S. Market: Expert Insights for International Ecommerce Brands, Released alongside the Peak Playbook, shows that U.S. customs, product compliance, and tax obligations differ sharply from Europe and Asia, creating risk for brands that scale too quickly.
- U.S. shoppers expect same-day/next-day delivery, transparent returns, and localized experiences—benchmarks that international brands must meet to compete.
- Many non-U.S. brands underestimate how tariffs reshape landed cost calculations. In-country enablement strategies can reduce effective duty exposure by up to 70%.
