Global cross-border e-commerce increased by 21% in the first half of this year

The latest research shows that with the spread of the corona virus in the United States, American shoppers have purchased more goods from electronic retailers abroad.

Although consumers around the world may still be cautious about shopping in physical stores, many people are not worried about shopping online from retailers outside their home country.

According to Global-e, from Jan 2020 to June 2020, the global cross-border online sales increased by 21% compared to last year. The report analyzes the online retail sales of clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and footwear products of 300 retailers worldwide, whose products are sold in more than 185 countries. It uses order and shipping data to investigate.

A supplier said that although sales in some regions slowed down when the epidemic peaked, sales in many countries have rebounded.

In May, global cross-border online sales increased by 42%, and the same growth trend appeared in June.

The study found that with the spread of the corona virus in the United States, American consumers buy more goods from electronic retailers outside their home country. For example, in April, cross-border online sales increased by 7% year-on-year, while such sales soared by 42% in May, which increased the total cross-border e-commerce in the United States from January to mid-June to 10.2%.

At the same time, in April and May, global cross-border online sales of luxury goods increased by 39% year-on-year. The report pointed out: "It is particularly noteworthy that the Gulf region has seen a surge in cross-border online sales of luxury goods since April." Overall, from January 1 to June 14, cross-border luxury e-commerce sales increased by 17.5% in all the countries analyzed.

Scenario in other regions :

Western Europe: During the worst period of the pandemic in the region, Western European consumers who purchased online from countries outside the region fell 2% and 11% year-on-year in February and March, respectively. However, in April and May, cross-border e-commerce sales in the region increased by 23% and 30% year-on-year. As of mid-June, the region increased by 9.5% year-on-year.

Gulf region: Before Ramadan in April, cross-border online sales in March increased by 115% year-on-year, April increased by 575% year-on-year, and reached 236% in May. From January 1 to June 14, cross-border e-commerce sales increased by 214% year-on-year.

Australia and New Zealand: Due to lack of consumer confidence, the blockade that began at the end of March triggered a brief decline in discretionary cross-border e-commerce purchases. However, e-commerce increased significantly in April and May, and cross-border online sales in May increased by 29% year-on-year. Overall, from January 1 to June 14, cross-border online sales in the region increased by 10%.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the proportion of online retail sales in total retail sales in various markets around the world has increased significantly. A May survey of 17,143 Internet users in 20 countries by the Global Web Index found that 46% of shoppers plan to shop online more frequently after the epidemic subsides. This number is higher than in April, when 43% of respondents said they plan to increase shopping after the economic crisis.