E-Commerce Expected to Reach $11 Trillion in the Next Three Years
The e-commerce sector, led by major players such as Amazon and Alibaba, is anticipated to reach $11 trillion by 2028.
According to GlobalData’s E-commerce Report for 2025, the global e-commerce ecosystem is experiencing sustainable growth, partly due to the influence of these industry giants. As the sector matures, e-commerce behemoths Amazon and Alibaba are expected to focus even more on gaining market share in developing digital economies.
Doubling in Seven Years
GlobalData’s report highlights the rapid growth of the sector. Valued at $6.5 trillion in 2023, the sector’s volume is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% and reach $11 trillion by 2028. If these projections are realized, the e-commerce industry will have doubled its size between 2021 and 2028. According to the report, a large portion of this growth will be attributed to major players in the market. E-commerce platforms like Amazon provide opportunities not only for large corporations but also for smaller players wishing to enter the sector.
“The E-commerce Sector Has Split in Two”
The report states, “The e-commerce sector has divided into two distinct segments: one dominated by massive internet ecosystems and the other by everything else. Giants have significant advantages, such as network effects driven by the size of their user base, artificial intelligence superiority, and established mobile payment platforms. Companies like Tencent, Amazon, Alphabet, and Alibaba have firmly established themselves in global online marketplaces.”
“Marketplaces Have Democratized the Sector”
The report also acknowledges that while these giants have become “almost untouchable,” there is still room for smaller players. In fact, the dominance of the larger players has, in some ways, facilitated this: “E-commerce service providers, such as Shopify, and marketplaces like Amazon and Alibaba, have democratized the market by offering everyone the opportunity to become a seller. As more sellers move online, the e-commerce landscape will continue to evolve to meet the ever-expanding needs of the product range being offered.”