E-commerce Revenues in Europe Reach €911 Billion
In a noteworthy development, European e-commerce revenues soared to an impressive €911 billion (approximately $1.036 trillion) in the previous year, realizing a seven percent growth amidst pervasive economic and political uncertainties.
These figures were unveiled in an annual joint industry report that highlighted the sector’s resilience against external pressures, often characterized as “unfair competition” from non-European platforms.
This surge in revenue represents an increase from €842 billion ($957 billion) in 2024, according to the recent European E-commerce Report generated by two prominent trade associations: Ecommerce Europe, which advocates for the e-commerce sector, and EuroCommerce, representing retailers and wholesalers alike.
The comprehensive report, orchestrated by the Centre for Marketing Innovation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, encompassed 38 countries across Europe, with particular emphasis placed on the 27 member nations of the European Union (EU).
Regional growth patterns, however, exhibited divergence. Western Europe, the most significant e-commerce market, recorded the slowest expansion at five percent, contributing €523.1 billion ($594 billion), which constitutes 57 percent of total European revenues. In contrast, Southern Europe experienced the most rapid growth at eight percent.
This year’s report notably omitted certain metrics previously included, such as a detailed breakdown of revenues by product category, owing to an absence of timely data.
Fresh indicators were adopted instead, measuring e-commerce turnover per capita against gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
As per the last available data on product categories from 2023, 70 percent of EU consumers engaged in online purchases of clothing, footwear, or accessories, categorized collectively.
Notably, the second most popular purchases included multimedia services—encompassing films and games—sought by 48 percent of consumers, followed by food deliveries at 30 percent.
Luca Cassetti, the Secretary General of Ecommerce Europe, remarked on the sector’s ongoing growth: “European e-commerce continues to flourish despite a challenging landscape, illustrating the industry’s fortitude and its significant contribution to the Union’s economic framework and single market.”
However, he cautioned, “But growth alone is not sufficient. Businesses require a regulatory environment that fosters competitiveness, alleviates unnecessary administrative encumbrances, and guarantees equitable conditions between EU and non-EU operators.”
The report identified unfair competition from “e-commerce players outside the EU” as a predominant concern for the industry, alongside issues related to regulation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.
While the officials from the industry groups refrained from explicitly naming these external players, it is widely inferred that the reference targets e-commerce enterprises from China.
Christel Delberghe, Director-General of EuroCommerce, articulated in her foreword that the report highlights the existing obstacles to fair competition, stemming from disparities in compliance between European enterprises and external sellers.
It endorses the elimination of customs duty exemptions for low-value goods procured online from outside the EU.
Additionally, Cassetti noted that the EU has been proactively addressing these challenges, citing “recent enforcement actions by the European Commission under the Digital Services Act.”
Contextually, the Commission levied its largest fine to date under this legislation last July, imposing a penalty of €550 million (over $627 million) on AliExpress, the largest Chinese e-commerce platform operating within the EU.
Furthermore, in December 2025, Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, incurred a fine of €120 million (approximately $140 million) for violations pertinent to the same law, a decision currently being appealed by both Musk and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Source link: Wwd.com.
