The Bundeskartellamt has launched an investigation into Whaleco Technology Limited (Temu), based in Dublin, Ireland. The investigation aims to scrutinize the conditions Temu imposes on merchants operating on its German online marketplace, accessible via temu.com.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, stated that Temu's platforms attract over 100 million users monthly across Europe, and the platform has been open to German merchants for about a year. The authority is investigating allegations that Temu may be imposing unlawful pricing directives on merchants, which could lead to significant restrictions on competition and potential price increases in other sales channels.

Temu operates various trading platforms, including one in Germany since 2023, without acting as a seller on these platforms. The German marketplace offers a wide range of products and is accessible through the website and a mobile app. Under the Digital Services Act, Temu has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) since May 2024, subjecting it to transparency reporting obligations to the European Union. Temu reported an average of 115.7 million active users in the EU in the first half of 2025, with 19.3 million active users in Germany.

The Bundeskartellamt is particularly focused on the conditions for merchants selling to consumers in Germany, investigating potential influences on their pricing strategies, including the possibility of Temu determining final sale prices. Additionally, the authority has received a complaint from the German Trade Association (HDE) against Temu regarding these practices.