According to a notice published by Kazakhstan Post (QazPost) on its website on October 29, some product categories on the Pinduoduo platform can now be shipped directly to Kazakhstan, based on cooperation between Kazakhstan Post and China's YTO Express. When ordering, buyers can enter a Kazakh address and choose pickup at a Kazakhstan Post office; according to Kazakh media, VAT is added separately on the checkout page.
For merchants in Kazakhstan who resell small Chinese goods, run cross-border consolidation or buy on behalf of customers, this means platform direct shipping is starting to compete head-on with the traditional "cargo" (карго) model; for ordinary buyers, the point is to check which items qualify for direct shipping and what the final checkout price includes.
What is Pinduoduo's direct shipping to Kazakhstan?
According to Digital Business (October 27) and Kursiv (October 28), a "Free Shipping to Kazakhstan" banner appeared on the Pinduoduo app's home page, stating that there is no minimum order amount. Buyers need to select Kazakhstan in the region settings and enter the delivery address and postal code; if the chosen item supports direct shipping, the app offers a Kazakhstan Post office as the pickup point, and whether this is available depends on the specific item and address.
In its press release, Kazakhstan Post reminded buyers to check the final price, delivery terms and delivery time before ordering.
Which items do not qualify for free direct shipping?
Free shipping does not cover all items; it applies only to items whose product page carries the "Free Shipping to Kazakhstan" label or the blue "Free shipping" badge. According to Digital Business, bulky and long items, items weighing more than 10 kg and items whose three dimensions add up to more than 150 cm are outside free shipping. Kursiv also reports that items that are too large, too long or too heavy are not covered by the service.
What charges are added at checkout?
According to Kursiv, Pinduoduo has formally registered as a taxpayer in Kazakhstan, and VAT is automatically added to the item price in the cart. According to Inbusiness.kz (October 28), the VAT added is 16%; when paying by bank card, the platform charges an additional fee of about 3%, and Kursiv also mentions this fee of about 3%.
According to Inbusiness.kz, after parcels are consolidated at the warehouse, the app shows a delivery time of 11 to 20 working days; the cart also has a new field for the individual identification number (IIN, ИИН), which the app says is used for customs declarations and is currently marked optional.
What about items with no direct shipping option?
According to a notice on the Kazakhstan Post website dated March 16, since March 16, 2026 Kazakhstan Post has offered the Qazpost Keruen China consolidation service in the QazPost app: the user copies the China warehouse address from the app and enters it when ordering on Pinduoduo, the parcel is processed at the Keruen warehouse in China and then forwarded to Kazakhstan, and every status can be tracked in the app. Digital Business reports that for items without a direct shipping option this remains an alternative.
What does this mean for merchants and cargo companies in Kazakhstan?
Rules related to this news
According to Inbusiness.kz, some cargo companies pointed to weaknesses in the new approach, including the bank card fee, the need to provide personal data and an IIN, parcel tracking, and after-sales returns. Kursiv reports that local Kazakh sellers worry that Chinese e-commerce platforms expanding in Kazakhstan will hurt their business, with merchants who import cheap goods from China and resell them hit first.
Earlier, Kazakhstan Post and YTO were already pushing ahead with building a cross-border logistics hub in Almaty; Kazakhstan's tax authorities are also tightening tax administration of foreign e-commerce platforms.
Frequently asked questions
### Can all Pinduoduo items be shipped to Kazakhstan for free?
No. Only items with the "Free Shipping to Kazakhstan" or "Free shipping" label qualify; according to Digital Business, bulky and long items, items over 10 kg and items whose three dimensions add up to more than 150 cm are excluded.
### Where are directly shipped parcels collected?
According to Kazakh media, you can choose pickup at a Kazakhstan Post office when ordering; whether this is available depends on the item and the delivery address.
### Does free shipping mean there are no other charges?
No. According to Kursiv and Inbusiness.kz, VAT is added at checkout (16% according to Inbusiness.kz), and paying by bank card adds a fee of about 3%.
### Can items without the direct shipping label still be sent to Kazakhstan?
According to Kazakhstan Post, you can use the Qazpost Keruen service in the QazPost app: the parcel is first sent to its China warehouse and then forwarded.
Further reading
- More news on cross-border logistics: Kazakhstan investment and projects news section
- QazPost and YTO cooperation: Qazpost and YTO speed up construction of the Almaty SkyHub cross-border logistics hub
- Taxation of foreign e-commerce platforms: Kazakhstan tax authorities collect taxes from foreign platforms
- Cross-border logistics and transit: Kazakhstan customs and transit services
Sources
- Kazakhstan Post (QazPost), October 29: https://qazpost.kz/ru/about/news/2866
- Kazakhstan Post (QazPost), March 16: https://qazpost.kz/ru/about/news/2565
- Digital Business, October 27: https://digitalbusiness.kz/2026-10-27/pinduoduo-sdelal-dostavku-v-kazahstan-besplatnoy-no-s-nadbavkami/
- Kursiv, October 28: https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-10-28/aina-pinduoduo-zapustil-besplatnuyu-dostavku-v-kazahstan-no-est-nyuansy/
- Inbusiness.kz, October 28: https://www.inbusiness.kz/ru/news/besplatnaya-dostavka-s-pinduoduo-v-chem-podvoh
The cover image was generated by AI and is not a real photograph.
Key facts
- Kazakhstan Post has partnered with YTO Express, enabling selected Pinduoduo product categories to be shipped directly to Kazakhstan.
- Pinduoduo direct-shipping orders can be picked up at Kazakhstan Post outlets, subject to availability for the specific product and address.
- Free direct shipping on Pinduoduo applies only to products marked “Free Shipping to Kazakhstan” on the product page.
- Free direct shipping on Pinduoduo does not cover large items, long items, products weighing over 10 kg, or products whose combined dimensions exceed 150 cm.
- Pinduoduo checkout automatically adds 16% VAT on top of the product price, and card payments incur an additional fee of approximately 3%.
- The Qazpost Keruen China consolidation service can forward products that do not have a Pinduoduo direct-shipping option.
FAQ
Which Pinduoduo products qualify for free direct shipping to Kazakhstan?
Products marked “Free Shipping to Kazakhstan” or “Free shipping” on the product page qualify. Large items, long items, products weighing over 10 kg, and products whose combined dimensions exceed 150 cm are not eligible for free shipping.
Where can Pinduoduo direct-shipping parcels be picked up?
Buyers can select Kazakhstan in the regional settings, enter the recipient address and postal code, and select pickup at a Kazakhstan Post outlet when direct shipping is supported. Outlet availability depends on the specific product and address.
Does free shipping mean there are no other charges at checkout?
No. The checkout page automatically adds 16% VAT on top of the product price, and card payments incur an additional fee of approximately 3%.
How can products without a direct-shipping option be sent to Kazakhstan?
Use the Qazpost Keruen China consolidation service through the QazPost App. The parcel can first be sent to a warehouse in China for processing and then forwarded to Kazakhstan.
How long does delivery take for Pinduoduo direct-shipping parcels?
After the App shows that the parcel has been consolidated in the warehouse, the delivery time is 11 to 20 business days.