Cross-border sales are booming in Western Europe despite a slowdown in adoption. As China’s ecommerce giants eye European expansion, local retailers face a competitive threat—and a substantial opportunity.
Despite a post-Brexit drop in the number of shoppers, Western Europe’s cross-border ecommerce market is booming as consumers spend more on goods from foreign retailers. Much of the momentum is being driven by China’s ecommerce giants and investment by online marketplaces such as Amazon and Zalando. Buyer growth will return in 2025—which will be both an opportunity and a threat for retailers in Europe.
Key Question: What is the outlook for cross-border ecommerce in Western Europe in 2024 and beyond?
Key Stat: After falling from a pandemic peak, cross-border buyer numbers will rise again in Spain (0.2%) and Italy (0.6%) this year and return to growth in Germany (3.0%), France (2.3%), and the UK (2.6%) in 2025.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
For European retailers, cross-border ecommerce is an opportunity—and a threat
Sales growth has come despite a slowdown in adoption
The market is poised to accelerate beginning in 2025
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Cross-Border Buyers Have Been Declining in the Former EU-5 Since 2021 (millions of former EU-5 cross-border buyers, % change, and % of digital buyers, 2019-2025)
Cross-Border Buyers Have Been Declining in the Former EU-5 Since 2021 (millions of former EU-5 cross-border buyers, % change, and % of digital buyers, 2019-2025)