E-commerce market snapshot
As the near-universal ownership of digital devices and the roll-out of 5G embed the internet ever more deeply into consumers’ everyday lives and confidence in card payments increases, consumers are becoming more familiar with e-commerce.
There is a significant probability that the growth in e-commerce sales seen during the COVID-19 pandemic is the new normal.
Trade and Investment Queensland strongly encourages exporting Queensland businesses to tap into e-commerce channels in various overseas markets. The potential of e-commerce in individual markets is outlined below.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Apparel and footwear
- Food and drink
- Beauty and personal care
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Alibaba
- JD.com
Points of interest
- Older consumers have had a taste of the high convenience of shopping online during the pandemic and are willing to pay extra.
- Over 100 cross-border e-commerce zones across China allow brands the freedom of not setting up legal entities in the country. Imported goods can be temporarily stored in bonded warehouses.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Personal accessories and eyewear
- Apparel and footwear
- Beauty and personal care
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- HKTVmall
- Facebook Marketplace
Points of interest
- Significant portion of retail sales come from tourists who prefer to physically shop.
- Last mile delivery difficult due to congestion.
- Consumers often follow Korean/Japanese fashion trends.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Media products
- Food and drink
- Consumer electronics
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Tokopedia
- Shopee
Points of interest
- Penetration of e-commerce in the country is still concentrated in the Java region.
- Men dominate online shopping.
- Particularly sought-after foods include processed meats, fruit, packaged coffee.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Media products
- Apparel and footwear
- Food and drink
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Amazon
- Rakutan
Points of interest
- Japanese people can be conservative with respect to doing new things/buying from sources they don’t know well.
- Government driving a shift towards cashless payments.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Apparel and footwear
- Consumer electronics
- Homewares and home furnishings
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Momoshop
- Shopee
Points of interest
- Free postage/delivery is common.
- Most retailers conduct business using platforms rather than maintaining own websites.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Food and drink
- Apparel and footwear
- Homewares and home furnishings
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Amazon
- eBay
Points of interest
- Consumers concerned about environmental impact of growth in delivery vehicles.
- Ingredient boxes for at-home cooking gaining traction relative to food service delivery.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Food and drink
- Consumer electronics
- Homewares and home furnishings
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Amazon
- Walmart
Points of interest
- Third-party merchants generating sales of USD100,000 or more must pay state taxes.
- Benchmark for delivery is Amazon’s one day service for Prime members.
- Rising consumer concerns about packaging materials used.
Top e-commerce growth categories in 2020
- Food and drink
- Consumer electronics
- Apparel and footwear
Leading e-commerce platforms in market
- Mobile world
- Tiki
Points of interest
- Customers able to place orders via direct message, without the need for a proper online shopping system.
- Cash on delivery remains a common payment method for online businesses. Third-party electronic wallet services are on the rise.
For more information on each market’s e-commerce trends and dominant platforms, email us to receive the full Euromonitor Consulting report.