DHL Advice to Sell Abroad
Going global is the real opportunity for your eBusiness
About €4.5 Trillion
This is the volume of sales reached by the global e-commerce market in 2022.
China, the U.S. and Europe are the main players, accounting for 84% of the total market.
Source: 2022 B2C e-commerce Observatory of Polytechnic University of Milan
Top Countries in the E-commerce Market:
China
Why exporting and selling to China through the use of digital channels? Because China is the largest e-commerce market in the world, its total volume of sales being greater than that of the United States. Sure enough, China accounts for 40% of e-commerce product purchases globally, with a volume reaching €1,532 billion.
Source: B2C e-commerce Observatory 2022 of Milan Politecnico University
What do Chinese online consumers buy most?
Chinese online consumers mainly buy products made abroad to meet their demand for premium goods.
Statistics also show that Chinese shoppers are shifting their focus from price to product quality; in fact, they are more willing to pay a higher price for quality goods, particularly for branded products. The trend is generally positive, as demonstrated by the 9% rate at which B2C e-commerce purchases are growing.
USA
Selling online in the U.S. can be good for your eBusiness, since the U.S. economy ranks second in the world in terms of e-commerce product purchases, accounting for 22% of the total volume, with a value of €816 billion.
Source: 2022 B2C e-commerce Observatory of Polytechnic University of Milan
There are, of course, social and cultural differences between the various states that must be taken into account.
The key to successfully sell online in the United States is service: eshoppers expect to know the price of the transaction immediately, and they like the possibility to choose amongst multiple delivery and payment options so as to benefit from a larger offer than local retailers. Furthermore, 70% of U.S. consumers preferred one merchant over another because of the possibility to choose amongst multiple delivery options.
Source: MetaPack Delivery Options Maturity Index
Japan
Japanese e-commerce users buy heavily from abroad, particularly from India and South Korea. About 25 million Japanese consumers buy from a foreign e-commerce website.
Source: Lengow, Expand your e-commerce Business internationally
To sell online in Japan it is necessary to take into account that the Japanese are generally risk averse, so they look for brands they know and trust. Their purchases are characterised by low return rates, which confirms their appreciation of an extraordinarily efficient customer service.
UK
The UK is the third most important e-commerce market in the world and the first in Europe. Over the last few years, UK online shoppers have purchased goods from EU and non-EU countries in equal amounts.
In the United Kingdom, more than 80% of people use e-commerce website for their purchases: in other words, more than four British consumers out of five are digital shoppers.
Source: Statista
Most foreign products and services are purchased via major global platforms such as Amazon and Ebay.
Source: SimilarWeb
This behaviour is most common in users in the 25-34 age group (37%); users in the 35-44 age group have a greater propensity to purchase travel solutions (20%), while those aged 45-54 frequently purchase tickets for events and shows (10%).
South Korea
Why is it important to use online channels to export to South Korea? Because South Korea is the second largest market in the world in terms of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). The South Korean market is the third most important e-commerce market in the Asian Pacific macro-region.
The value of the e-commerce market is expected to reach about $101.80 billion in 2023. Revenues are expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.45% between 2023 and 2027.
Source: Statista
Women have a higher propensity to shop online than men, with Amazon and eBay being the preferred platforms in South Korea.
News and Opportunities in the World to Expand Your e-Business
At DHL Express, we anticipate market needs and we support you in the international growth process.
To help you sell online abroad, we provide you with our know-how on international markets and e-shopper behaviours, so as to ship quickly and without surprises anywhere in the world.
Would You Like a Solution Tailored to Your Business Needs?
Contact us for direct assistance.