Alibaba, which has established a logistics plant in Arinaga, avoids passing on tariffs like the AIEM to the services sector through its wholesale platform, offering the tourism sector in southern Gran Canaria a wide range of food products for hotels, restaurants, and catering services. A comparison of hotel welcome products shows price differences between local suppliers in the Canary Islands (who usually import them from Asia) and Alibaba. For example, a 20-30 g bath soap costs between €0,05 and €0,10 per unit locally, compared to €0,01-€0,05 on Alibaba. A 10-15 ml shampoo or body wash costs between €0,10 and €0,15 per unit with local suppliers and €0,02-€0,06 on Alibaba. Disposable toothbrushes are priced at €0,10–€0,15 locally and €0,02–€0,05 via Alibaba, while single-use infusions range from €0,20–€0,30 with local operators and €0,05–€0,10 with Alibaba.
More prices: dehydrated fruits and vegetables for healthy snacks, dried quince jelly for gourmet breakfasts, extra virgin olive oils in professional formats, high-quality coffees, and snack mixes ideal for minibars or common areas. This offering allows establishments to stock up efficiently with competitive international products, optimizing both inventory management and the dining experience for guests. Many supposed Canarian industrialists import from China, alter the process, and sell it to the islanders as a product made on the islands. The new infrastructure in Arinaga, along with the rest of the Canary Islands network, will even allow the direct supply of food products and consumables to the hotel and tourism sector in southern Gran Canaria, facilitating purchasing management for accommodations, restaurants, and visitor-oriented businesses.
A wholesale price comparison between Alibaba and industrial suppliers in the Canary Islands reveals significant differences in juice products for hotels. Bulk orange juice is priced between €1,50 and €2,00 per kilogram with local suppliers, compared to €0,80–€1,20 through Alibaba, although the local juice stands out for its freshness and authentic flavor. For dehydrated orange juice, local suppliers charge between €2,50 and €3,00, while Alibaba offers prices of €1,80–€2,50, with the advantage of cost competitiveness. This comparison shows how hotels in southern Gran Canaria can combine local and international sourcing to optimize costs and quality.
To this end, the logistics subsidiary of Chinese giant Alibaba, Cainiao, has expanded its distribution network to the entire Canary Islands, consolidating its presence in the archipelago with a new station in Arinaga, which will allow it to quickly serve both local commerce and the tourism sector in the south of the island. A comparison of wholesale prices reveals significant differences between Alibaba and industrial suppliers in the Canary Islands who enjoy tariff protection. For example, extra virgin olive oil is priced between €3,50 and €4,00 per kilogram on the local market, compared to €1,25–€3,00 through Alibaba. In the case of coffee beans, local producers charge between €6,00 and €7,00 per kilogram, while Alibaba offers prices of €5,00–€6,00. Snacks and appetizers cost between €3,00 and €4,00 locally, compared to €2,70–€3,00 on Alibaba, and local dried fruits and vegetables are around €4,00–€5,00, compared to €2,60–€3,00 imported. This comparison shows that tourism businesses can balance quality and cost by combining local and international suppliers according to their needs.
Cainiao guarantees comprehensive delivery coverage throughout the archipelago, combining daily flights from Madrid with a multimodal maritime and air transport model. The company has also established last-mile stations on all islands, ensuring fast and reliable deliveries. "This achievement underscores our long-term commitment to Spain and demonstrates our ability to support both cross-border e-commerce platforms and local businesses with efficient logistics solutions," said Wenming Cai, General Manager of Cainiao Iberia.
Cainiao currently operates a network covering 50 provinces in Spain, with 59 last-mile stations and a national distribution center in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid), capable of processing 40.000 packages per hour. The company offers 24-hour deliveries in 36 cities, weekend deliveries, and access to more than 11.000 collection points and 500 lockers nationwide. With this expansion, southern Gran Canaria strengthens its logistics connectivity, key to a growing tourism sector and the drive for e-commerce on the island, where fast and reliable delivery becomes an added value for hotels, restaurants, and businesses serving international visitors.
