Customers in Belgium spent 16.3 billion euros on-line final yr. In comparison with 2022, this is a rise of virtually 11 %. The sturdy development was attributable to a rise in gross sales of on-line companies, like bundle holidays.
These information come from the most recent Market Monitor from Becom, the Belgian ecommerce federation. In comparison with 2022, ecommerce in Belgium grew 10.7 %. Based on the report, this development is stronger than inflation within the nation, which was 2.3 % in 2023.
€4.8 billion distinction with 2019
“In comparison with 5 years in the past (2019), a rise of 4.8 billion euros has now been purchased on-line. A couple of quarter of all Belgian spending occurs on-line at this time”, mentioned Greet Dekocker, managing director at Becom.
‘We’re seeing a full restoration in on-line spending on companies.’
“The sturdy improve in on-line purchases just isn’t a lot attributable to ordering extra merchandise and garments, however it’s as a result of we’re shopping for extra companies – comparable to bundle holidays and airline tickets – on-line. We’re thus seeing a full restoration in on-line spending on companies (8 billion euros) for the primary time because the COVID-19 interval. Virtually 68 % of all companies are purchased on-line.”
High 3 on-line purchases
Belgian shoppers spent 28 % extra on bundle holidays in 2023 than a yr earlier. In whole, they spent 3.5 billion euros on this class. On-line purchases of airline tickets and lodging accounted for two.1 billion euros (a rise of 19 %). Clothes got here in third place, with a complete of 1.6 billion euros. This was a slight lower of 1.8 %.
‘Belgian sellers needs to be lively on marketplaces’
The report additionally states that by the tip of 2023, there have been 63,202 on-line shops in Belgium. These generated a turnover of 13.3 billion euros. On-line shops exported companies and merchandise for two.5 billion euros, to shoppers in different nations.
Considering the export quantity of Belgian sellers, the report states that customers within the nation positioned purchases price a complete of 5.5 billion euros at overseas on-line shops or marketplaces. “To surf alongside on the rising ecommerce, Belgian retailers needs to be lively on marketplaces. Entrepreneurs who’ve already taken the plunge point out that they report a median improve in turnover of 23 %”, mentioned Dekocker.
‘With a greater illustration of sellers on marketplaces, shoppers may even discover extra Belgian on-line shops.’
“Therefore our recommendation: check your product vary on a market. In recent times, increasingly more specialised marketplaces have additionally seen the sunshine of day. Furthermore, one in three Belgians begin their on-line search on a market. With a greater illustration of our merchants on these platforms, shoppers may even discover Belgian on-line retailers. A win-win for our nation.”
