The emerging e-commerce markets of 2021

Ready to expand your international sales ambitions? Then you’ll need to know the up-and-coming economies where e-commerce is growing and consumers are keen for cross-border goods. Read on to discover the emerging markets of 2021 that should be on your radar – and how to tap into the lucrative opportunities.

Where is e-commerce booming? That’s the key question if you’re an online retailer selling internationally. After all, you’re going to want to invest your time and money where ROI will be worth it. For a long time, there have been the obvious targets – Europe, China, and North America. But there are now several other key markets where e-commerce is having a transformative moment – boosted by factors such as rapid digitalization and high internet penetration rates that now means anyone with a smartphone is a potential customer.  

Covid-19 has shifted the game, too. No country was left unaffected, but amidst the devastation has emerged new opportunities. The pandemic triggered an unprecedented worldwide shift towards e-commerce – boosting its share of global retail trade from 14% in 2019 to around 17% in 2020¹. Added to this, many countries have put in place record Covid stimulus packages to get their economies moving again. All of which means there are still plenty of lucrative cross-border opportunities out there for hungry e-commerce businesses. So, where should you hedge your bets in 2021 and beyond? Read on…

The Tiger Cub Economies of Asia

It’s worth us first touching briefly on the Tiger Cub economies. These are five rapidly developing countries in Southeast Asia – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – that would have been on the target list of any savvy e-commerce business even pre-Covid. They gained their nickname as they’re following the same growth model of the original Tiger Economies (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea) – that is, using exports to drive their economies.  

The Tiger Cub countries are investing in technologies and digital infrastructures that are driving up internet penetration rates amongst consumers there, meaning it has never been easier to trade with them. Consider too, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populated country (with a staggering 275.1 million people²), and the sales opportunities become even more apparent.

Our exclusive article on the Tiger Cub economies shares valuable insights into these markets, including what products consumers there are looking to buy. Dive in, here.

South Korea e-commerce: an original Tiger Economy with a high per capita income

One of the original Tiger Economies, South Korea has kept Covid infection rates relatively low, which has helped economic activity remain resilient. The country also boasts one of the highest per capita incomes amongst the EM (emerging markets) group³, which is driving healthy consumer spending – particularly online, meaning that tapping into e-commerce in South Korea is an enticing prospect. In fact, in 2019, 88.5% of the nation’s population used at least one e-commerce platform, and this is forecast to rise to 94.4% in 2023⁴. 

Population: 51.3 million⁵

Internet user penetration rate: 97%⁶

How and what are consumers there buying online?

Image and status are important to South Koreans, making luxury and branded goods popular. In September 2020, the leading items purchased online were clothing, footwear, sporting goods and accessories (81.8% of consumers), followed by groceries (51.7%) and kitchen goods (43.8%)⁷.  

Leading payment methods for shopping online (Sept 2019 - Sept 2020):

• Credit card: 76.1% of respondents
• Mobile-easy payment (such as a linked credit or debit card): 37.8%
• Debit card: 37.5%

Source: Statista⁸

Latin America

Did you know that Argentina was the country where retail e-commerce grew the most in 2020 – by a staggering 79%?⁹ Together with Brazil and Mexico, it is driving an exciting turning point for Latin America’s e-commerce sector – in fact, the region led the world in e-commerce sales growth last year¹⁰. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that two of its economic hubs – São Paulo, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina – have endured some of the world’s strictest lockdowns since the pandemic hit. Many consumers turned to online shopping for the first time, and now they’ve experienced the convenience and ease of it, they’ll be staying, which is good news for businesses looking for thriving new markets. Let’s take a closer look at the golden trio…

E-commerce in Argentina

Population: 45.6 million¹¹

Internet user penetration rate: 72%¹²

How and what are consumers there buying online?

The country has been through several economic crises over the past two decades, which means consumers are conservative with their money, prioritising price and value for money when shopping. International brands looking to tap into this market should offer discounts and free shipping to lure customers. Electronics and media is the largest e-commerce category, followed by fashion, then furniture and appliances¹³.

Leading payment methods for shopping online (2020):

• Credit cards: 77%
• Cash: 11%
• Debit cards: 4%

Source: Statista¹⁴

E-commerce in Brazil

Population: 214.25 million¹⁵

Internet user penetration rate: 68.1%¹⁶

How and what are consumers there buying online?

Like the Argentinians, Brazilian consumers are cost savvy and will shop around to find the best prices available.  Customer service is important, too: 41% said they would stop using a brand because of poor customer service¹⁷ – more than any other country – so investing in your customer communications during and after a sale is crucial.

In 2020, the most popular e-commerce product categories were fashion and accessories (19.9%), beauty, perfumes and health (14.4%), and entertainment (12.8%)¹⁸. In fact, Brazil is one of the biggest markets for beauty products in the world¹⁹.

Leading payment methods for shopping online:

Credit cards are used in 69% of all online payment transactions²⁰. However, international retailers should be aware of the differences between domestic-only and international credit cards: though the latter can process in both foreign and local currencies, only 20% of Brazilian buyers have access to these cards²¹ so cross-border merchants should offer localized payment options, too.

E-commerce in Mexico

Population: 130.46 million²²

Internet user penetration rate: 65%²³

How and what are consumers there buying online?

Amazon launched in Mexico in 2015, and now has over 50 million customers there²⁴. The online marketplace provides an easy(ish) route to Mexican buyers, but foreign sellers should be aware of certain challenges – the need for Spanish-speaking customer service agents, and that processing returns requires an in-country address.

International brands should target ‘Hot Sale’, a week-long e-commerce sales event that takes place in Mexico each May, and ‘El Buen Fin’, its very own version of Black Friday. The most popular product categories during El Buen Fin in 2020 were fashion, electronics and home appliances²⁵.

Leading payment methods for shopping online:

Currently, only around a third (37%) of the population has a bank account²⁶. Thus, smartphones and apps with digital wallet options are popular – and are a major factor driving the country’s rapid adoption of mobile commerce. Ensure your e-commerce website is optimized for mobile to attract consumers there.

E-commerce in India

India is one of the BRIC economies – consisting also of Brazil, Russia and China (and a later addition of South Africa) – which are forecast to become leading suppliers of manufactured goods, services, and raw materials by 2050²⁷. Despite being severely impacted by the pandemic, the growth outlook for India remains positive, driven by its favorable demographics and rising consumerism. It’s forecast to be the number one country for retail e-commerce sales growth in 2021, at +27% – an impressive number that seems even more so when you consider the population size, meaning that it is still an attractive market for those looking to sell to India. ²⁸  

Population: 1.39 billion²⁹

Internet user penetration rate: 45%³⁰

How and what are consumers there buying online?

Mobile commerce is big business in India, and is projected to grow 21% annually over the next four years³¹. The leading e-commerce segments (based on market share) as of January 2020 were airlines and hotels (16%), clothing and footwear (13%), and electrical goods (11%)³².

In a recent survey of Indian consumers, the top reasons cited for shopping online in the last year included safer deliveries, competitive prices and ease of returns – features to remember for your sales strategy³³.

Leading payment methods for shopping online (as of Jan 2020):

• Card: 32%
• E-wallet: 26%
• Bank transfer: 18%
• Cash: 17%
• Other: 7%

Source: Statista³⁴

E-commerce in China

It wouldn’t be a complete list without giving a final mention to a perhaps-unsurprising entry: China. The “world’s manufacturer” may have long been an export leader, but what about its imports? What are consumers there buying from international sellers, and how can cross-border merchants tap into the market? Our exclusive guide to China’s e-commerce economy will give you all the insights your business needs to make its mark. Download it now.

For more help tapping into these burgeoning markets, partner with the world’s international experts, DHL.