E-Commerce News & Trends

$45.2B UAE-Türkiye Trade Momentum Drives New KEZAD-Trendyol Logistics Partnership

KEZAD Group and Trendyol Group, Türkiye’s first decacorn and one of the region’s leading e-commerce platforms, have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of an e-commerce logistics cluster within KEZAD in Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed during the UAE-Türkiye Joint Business Council Forum held in Istanbul, where senior business leaders and government representatives from both countries gathered to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation.

The partnership aims to support Trendyol’s regional expansion strategy by leveraging KEZAD’s integrated logistics and industrial ecosystem. Through the proposed collaboration, the companies plan to evaluate opportunities that would enhance supply chain efficiency, accelerate regional distribution capabilities, and improve market access across the Middle East and surrounding markets.

Trendyol currently serves more than 40 million customers and works with approximately 250,000 sellers across its e-commerce ecosystem, offering over 40 million products on its platform. The company has rapidly expanded its international footprint in recent years, positioning itself as one of the most influential technology and e-commerce companies in the region.

UAE-Türkiye Trade Relations Continue to Strengthen Under CEPA

The signing reflects the growing economic relationship between the UAE and Türkiye following the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which continues to accelerate bilateral trade and investment flows between the two countries.

During the forum, Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities and Free Zone and Co-Chair of the UAE–Türkiye Joint Business Council, highlighted the significance of the agreement and emphasized the increasing strength of UAE–Türkiye economic ties.

According to officials, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade with Türkiye exceeded $45.2 billion in 2025, underlining the rapid growth of commercial cooperation between the two markets.

The UAE delegation participating in the forum was led by H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and included more than 65 business leaders and representatives from Emirati companies.

KEZAD Group stated that the partnership reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a strategic logistics and trade gateway for international companies seeking faster regional market access, resilient supply chains, and integrated distribution infrastructure.

As regional e-commerce and cross-border trade continue to expand, collaborations between major logistics operators and digital commerce platforms are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the Middle East’s supply chain ecosystem.

Source

Southeast Asia E-Commerce Market Expected to Hit $289.8 Billion by 2029

Southeast Asia’s digital commerce industry is projected to reach $289.8 billion by 2029, highlighting the region’s accelerating transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets. The new study points to rising internet penetration, mobile-first consumers, digital payments adoption, and expanding logistics infrastructure as the key drivers behind this rapid growth.

Southeast Asia E-Commerce Growth

Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore continue to strengthen their digital economies as online shopping becomes increasingly integrated into everyday consumer behavior. The region’s young population and strong social commerce culture are also playing a major role in boosting online retail activity.

The report suggests that marketplaces, cross-border commerce, live shopping, and AI-powered personalization are expected to shape the next phase of Southeast Asia’s e-commerce evolution. At the same time, fintech innovation and improved delivery networks are making digital transactions more accessible across urban and rural markets alike.

Industry analysts believe Southeast Asia is becoming a strategic growth region for global e-commerce companies, brands, and investors looking to expand beyond mature markets. The region’s rapidly developing digital ecosystem is attracting increasing attention from technology firms, logistics providers, and payment platforms seeking long-term opportunities.

As competition intensifies, companies operating in Southeast Asia are expected to focus more heavily on customer experience, faster fulfillment, localized strategies, and data-driven commerce solutions to maintain growth momentum in the coming years.

Source: TechNode Global

Fulfilmentcrowd Expands into 7 European Fulfilment Centers with Fulfilment.nl Acquisition

UK-based logistics technology company fulfilmentcrowd has acquired Dutch ecommerce logistics specialist Fulfilment.nl as part of its strategy to accelerate European expansion and strengthen cross-border fulfilment capabilities across the EU.

The acquisition marks another major milestone for fulfilmentcrowd, which is backed by private equity firm Palatine. With the addition of Fulfilment.nl, the company’s European fulfilment network now expands to seven fulfilment centers, supporting ecommerce brands looking to scale internationally with faster and more localized delivery solutions.

According to the company, the Netherlands was selected as a strategic expansion market due to its role as one of Europe’s most important logistics hubs. Fulfilment.nl brings local operational expertise, strong customer relationships, and scalable logistics infrastructure to the growing fulfilmentcrowd ecosystem.

Fulfilmentcrowd Strengthens European Ecommerce Logistics Network

The deal reflects a broader trend in the ecommerce logistics sector, where fulfilment providers are racing to build pan-European networks capable of supporting omnichannel retail growth and cross-border commerce. Industry observers say demand for localized inventory management and faster EU-wide delivery is increasing rapidly as ecommerce brands seek more efficient international operations.

fulfilmentcrowd stated that the partnership will combine:

Local market expertise
Advanced fulfilment technology
Expanded EU delivery capabilities
Scalable logistics infrastructure

The company also welcomed Fulfilment.nl founder Robin Gerrits, General Manager Mart van der Heijden, and the broader Dutch team as part of the acquisition.

The acquisition follows several recent expansion moves by fulfilmentcrowd, including new fulfillment locations in the United States and leadership team changes aimed at supporting global growth ambitions.

Source

Shopee Reports Positive 46.6% Revenue Growth as Southeast Asia E-Commerce Battle Intensifies

Shopee is continuing to outperform expectations in Southeast Asia’s highly competitive e-commerce market, with parent company Sea reporting strong financial growth in the first quarter of 2026.

According to Sea’s latest earnings results, the company generated $7.1 billion in revenue during Q1 2026, marking a 46.6% year-on-year increase. Net income reached $438.2 million, while adjusted EBITDA climbed above $1 billion. The results pushed Sea’s share price sharply higher following the announcement.

Shopee remained the company’s largest business segment, contributing more than 60% of total revenue. The platform recorded 45% annual growth, reaching $5.1 billion in revenue as the company continued expanding logistics operations, seller incentives and digital payment integration across Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Sea’s strong quarter highlights how Shopee continues to defend its leadership position despite rising pressure from competitors including TikTok Shop and Alibaba-backed Lazada. Analysts note that competition in Southeast Asia’s digital commerce market has become increasingly aggressive, especially around logistics infrastructure, free shipping campaigns and creator-led shopping experiences.

Gaming and Fintech Continue Funding Shopee’s Growth

One of Sea’s biggest competitive advantages remains its multi-business ecosystem. While Shopee drives the company’s e-commerce growth, gaming division Garena and fintech business Monee continue generating strong cash flow to support expansion.

Garena recorded its strongest quarter since 2021, benefiting from the continued popularity of titles such as Free Fire and Arena of Valor. Meanwhile, Monee’s fintech operations expanded rapidly, particularly in Brazil, where digital lending and payment services continued gaining traction.

Industry analysts say this business structure allows Sea to continue investing aggressively into Shopee’s logistics and user acquisition strategies while maintaining overall profitability, something many e-commerce competitors struggle to achieve.

Sea also emphasized that Brazil remains one of Shopee’s fastest-growing international markets. The company’s expansion strategy increasingly focuses on balancing mature Southeast Asian operations with high-growth opportunities in Latin America.

Despite rising operational costs and lower margins linked to heavy investment, Shopee continues strengthening its regional market position. The platform remains Southeast Asia’s largest e-commerce company by traffic and transaction volume, operating across markets including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

As Southeast Asia’s digital commerce sector evolves, Shopee’s latest performance demonstrates that the region’s e-commerce race is far from slowing down. Instead, competition is entering a new phase driven by logistics, fintech integration, AI-powered recommendations and creator-led commerce experiences.

Source

Dubai Chambers China Forum 2026 to Accelerate Digital Economy and Trade Growth

Dubai Chambers has announced that the next edition of the Dubai Business Forum – China will take place in Shenzhen on October 14, 2026, aiming to strengthen trade, investment, and innovation ties between Dubai and China. The event will be held under the theme “Momentum at Scale: Accelerating Shared Success.”

Organized by Dubai Chambers, the forum is expected to bring together senior business leaders, investors, technology firms, policymakers, and multinational companies from both markets to explore opportunities across the digital economy, logistics, advanced manufacturing, venture capital, and emerging technologies.

How Dubai Chambers Is Expanding UAE-China Digital Economy Partnerships

Dubai Chambers stated that the forum is designed to create new channels for cross-border collaboration while positioning Dubai as a strategic global hub for Chinese companies seeking international expansion. Officials highlighted that the initiative aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double Dubai’s economy and strengthen its position among the world’s top global business cities.

According to Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, the event will focus on “high-impact opportunities” in sectors including the digital economy and emerging technologies.

Shenzhen was selected as the host city due to its global reputation in technology, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. Located in China’s Greater Bay Area, the city has become a major center for digital transformation, smart mobility, logistics, and venture capital development.

The upcoming edition marks the fifth international Dubai Business Forum and the second one hosted in China. Previous editions were held in cities including Beijing, London, Hamburg, and New York. The Beijing edition in 2024 attracted more than 800 business leaders and investors.

Source

Bangladesh Sees Positive Marketplace Shift as Jiji Acquires Bikroy

African classifieds marketplace Jiji has acquired Bikroy, Bangladesh’s largest online classifieds platform, marking the company’s first acquisition outside Africa and a major step in its international expansion strategy.

The acquisition comes just 13 months after Jiji officially entered the Bangladeshi market, where it launched operations to compete directly with established local players including Bikroy, Daraz and Ajkerdeal. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, although Jiji stated that the acquisition was completed using internal resources and shareholder support.

Founded in Nigeria, Jiji has built one of Africa’s largest digital classifieds ecosystems by following a “compete-then-buy” expansion strategy. The company previously acquired OLX Africa’s operations across several African markets in 2019 and later purchased Ghana’s Tonaton in 2022. Bikroy now becomes the third major competitor absorbed by the platform within six years.

Bikroy has been one of Bangladesh’s most recognized online marketplaces since its launch in 2012. The platform operates in both Bengali and English and has built a strong presence across categories including electronics, vehicles, property, jobs and household products.

Industry analysts view the move as a strategic effort by Jiji to replicate its African growth model in high-potential emerging markets. Bangladesh’s rapidly growing internet penetration, expanding middle class and rising online shopping adoption have made the country increasingly attractive for global e-commerce and marketplace companies.

Bangladesh Becomes a Key Digital Commerce Battleground

Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector is projected to reach between $12 billion and $13 billion within the next few years, driven by increasing smartphone usage and stronger digital payment adoption. According to industry data referenced by Jiji, nearly 79% of Bangladeshi consumers already shop online, while almost half are comfortable making payments through digital platforms.

By acquiring Bikroy instead of continuing direct competition, Jiji gains immediate access to one of the country’s largest online marketplace audiences and strengthens its position against regional competitors such as Alibaba-backed Daraz.

The acquisition also signals a broader trend in emerging-market e-commerce, where consolidation is becoming a key strategy for scaling digital marketplaces faster and reducing customer acquisition costs.

As competition intensifies across Asia and Africa, Jiji’s latest move highlights how global marketplace companies are increasingly targeting high-growth developing economies to secure long-term digital commerce leadership.

Source

Vietnam’s E-Commerce Records Positive 47% Surge, Reaching $5.6B in Q1 2026

Vietnam’s e-commerce sector continued its rapid expansion in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing the country’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital markets.

According to recent market data, total gross merchandise value (GMV) across Vietnam’s leading e-commerce platforms reached nearly VND148.6 trillion ($5.64 billion) during Q1 2026, representing a strong 47% year-on-year increase. The growth reflects rising consumer confidence, expanding platform competition and the increasing influence of social commerce in the country’s retail ecosystem.

Major platforms including Shopee, TikTok Shop, Lazada and Tiki continued to dominate the market, while livestream commerce and short-form video shopping became key drivers of online consumer engagement.

The number of online transactions also grew significantly during the quarter, surpassing 1.14 billion products sold. Vietnamese consumers spent an average of nearly $63 million per day on e-commerce platforms, highlighting the growing importance of digital retail channels in daily purchasing habits.

Beauty and personal care products emerged as the strongest-performing category, generating more than VND24.4 trillion in revenue. Women’s fashion and home-related products also remained among the top-selling segments. At the same time, men’s fashion recorded one of the fastest growth rates in the market, signaling changing consumer behavior and stronger demand for lifestyle-focused online shopping.

Social Commerce and Livestream Shopping Reshape Vietnam’s Market

Vietnam’s e-commerce growth is increasingly being fueled by social commerce strategies. Platforms are investing heavily in livestream shopping, creator-driven sales and short-video content to increase customer engagement and conversion rates.

TikTok Shop continues to rapidly expand its market share through “shoppertainment” strategies, while Shopee strengthens its position through integrated creator partnerships and platform-wide promotional campaigns. Analysts note that video-led commerce is becoming one of the defining trends of Vietnam’s digital economy.

Industry experts also highlight that Vietnam’s young digital-first population, improving logistics infrastructure and growing mobile internet penetration are creating strong long-term opportunities for online retail growth.

As Southeast Asia’s e-commerce competition intensifies, Vietnam is increasingly positioning itself as one of the region’s most dynamic and high-potential digital commerce markets for both local and international brands.

Source

E-Commerce Volume in Türkiye Exceeded 115 billion USD

New data on e-commerce in Türkiye has been released. In 2025, the e-commerce volume in the country increased by 52.2% compared to the previous year, exceeding 4.57 trillion TL (115.43 billion USD). The number of transactions reached 5 billion 940 million.

The Ministry of Trade of Türkiye has announced the “2025 E-Commerce Outlook Report in Türkiye“. According to the announced data, the retail e-commerce volume in Türkiye reached 2 trillion 460 billion Turkish liras (54.3 billion USD) in 2025, showing a 51.8% increase compared to the previous year. The number of retail e-commerce transactions was 1 billion 940 million. Between 2019 and 2025, the annual compound growth rate of the total e-commerce volume was 79.6%, and the annual compound growth rate of retail e-commerce volume was 83.7% during the same period.

E-Commerce Volume in Türkiye Increased by 382% in USD Terms

In 2019, the e-commerce volume in Türkiye was 23 billion 940 million USD, and it steadily increased each year, reaching 89 billion 580 million USD in 2024. In 2025, it reached 115 billion 430 million USD, marking a 28.9% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2019 and 2025, the growth rate in USD terms was 382%.

E-Commerce’s Share in Total Trade Reached 19.3%

In 2025, the domestic e-commerce volume accounted for 6.9% of Türkiye’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was 63 trillion 20 billion 905 million TL (1.40 trillion USD) according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). The share of e-commerce in total trade in Türkiye showed a high trend in the first quarter, decreased in the second quarter, remained stable in the third quarter, and increased again in the last quarter, mainly due to the impact of campaigns, but declined in the last month of the year.

634,611 Businesses Engaged in E-Commerce Activities in Türkiye

In 2024, 600,800 businesses in Türkiye were engaged in e-commerce activities, and by 2025, this number reached 634,611. Among the businesses involved in e-commerce, 75% are sole proprietorships, 21% are limited liability companies, and 4% are joint-stock companies. Among the e-commerce business owners, 72% are male, and 28% are female. The majority of male and female business owners are in the 30-34 age range.

Clothing, Footwear, and Accessories Sector Ranked First

In the distribution of businesses engaged in e-commerce by sector in Türkiye, the food sector had the highest share at 20.3%, followed by the clothing, footwear, and accessories sector at 13.8%, electronics at 11.9%, and home, garden, furniture, and decoration sectors at 10.5%. In 2025, the sector that took the largest share of e-commerce volume was clothing, footwear, and accessories, with 428 billion 700 million Turkish liras, followed by electronics at 304 billion 340 million Turkish liras, airlines at 285 billion 440 million Turkish liras, and food at 270 billion 160 million Turkish liras.

The Most Preferred Payment Method in E-Commerce Was Card Payments with 62.5%

When examining the payment methods used in e-commerce in Türkiye, card payments ranked first with 62.5%, followed by wire/EFT payments at 29.2%, cash on delivery at 3.5%, and other payment methods at 4.8%. Of the card payments, 64.1% were made using the 3D secure security method.

In November 2025, e-commerce volume increased by 41.5% compared to the same period in 2024. During the same period, the number of products and services sold increased by 11.6%. In the campaign month, the highest volume increase compared to the previous year occurred in the following sectors: books and magazines, food, entertainment and arts, and groceries and supermarkets.

Quick Commerce Reached 388.7 Billion Turkish Liras

Quick commerce (Q-Commerce), where consumers can reach the products they need within minutes, increased by 55.6% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with its share in the total e-commerce volume reaching 8.5%. In quick commerce, the food sector led the list with 69.5%, showing a noticeable difference compared to other sectors.

Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) e-commerce demonstrated significant potential in terms of sustainability. In 2025, the transaction volume in consumer-to-consumer (C2C) sales reached 21 billion 800 million Turkish liras, with 23 million 600 thousand transactions. The clothing, footwear, and accessories sector accounted for 36.7% of the sustainable e-commerce volume, followed by the electronics sector with 29.5%.

Blackstone’s Positive €635M Skroutz Deal Signals New Growth Era for Southeast European E-Commerce

Global investment giant Blackstone has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Greek e-commerce platform Skroutz from CVC Capital Partners in a deal valued at approximately €635 million, including debt. The acquisition marks one of the most significant recent e-commerce transactions in Southeast Europe and highlights growing investor confidence in the region’s digital retail ecosystem.

Originally founded in 2005 as a price-comparison platform, Skroutz has evolved into Greece’s leading online marketplace, now offering more than 26 million products from around 9,000 merchants to approximately 2.5 million active users. Over the years, the company expanded its operations beyond marketplace services into logistics, fulfillment, fintech, retail media, and last-mile delivery infrastructure.

Why the Blackstone–Skroutz Deal Matters for the E-Commerce Industry

The transaction reflects a broader trend of major global investment firms targeting regional digital commerce leaders with strong infrastructure and long-term expansion potential. Blackstone sees Skroutz as more than just an online marketplace; the company has built a vertically integrated ecosystem that includes payment services, logistics operations, and fulfillment capabilities across Greece and neighboring markets.

Skroutz has already expanded into Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria, positioning itself as an emerging regional player in Southeast Europe. Analysts believe Blackstone’s backing could accelerate this growth strategy and strengthen the platform’s competitiveness against global marketplaces and rapidly growing Asian e-commerce platforms.

Economic Growth and Digital Retail Expansion in Greece

The acquisition also underlines the rapid transformation of Greece’s digital economy. Greece has become one of Europe’s faster-growing economies in recent years, while e-commerce penetration across Southeast Europe still remains below Western European levels , creating significant room for future growth.

According to reports, Skroutz’s revenue grew from approximately €30 million in 2020 to more than €130 million by 2024, driven by rising online shopping adoption, stronger logistics capabilities, and expanding merchant participation.

Despite the ownership change, Skroutz’s founders will remain actively involved in the company. Co-founder George Chatzigeorgiou is expected to continue serving as CEO, while the founding team retains a minority stake in the business.

Source

Kaspi.kz Posts Robust Q1 Growth as Türkiye Becomes Core E-Commerce Market

Kaspi.kz delivered another quarter of strong growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by accelerating marketplace activity and the rapid expansion of its operations in Türkiye.

The Kazakhstan-based fintech and e-commerce giant reported a 31% year-over-year increase in total revenue, reaching approximately $2.3 billion, while e-commerce gross merchandise value (GMV) climbed 41% to $2.6 billion.

A key highlight of the quarter was the growing contribution of Türkiye to the company’s regional commerce strategy. Following the consolidation of Hepsiburada, Türkiye now accounts for nearly half of Kaspi.kz’s total e-commerce GMV, underlining the strategic importance of the market in the company’s international expansion plans.

Türkiye Emerges as a Strategic Growth Engine

Kaspi.kz’s latest results reflect a broader transformation underway within the company. Once primarily known as Kazakhstan’s dominant super app, the group is increasingly positioning itself as a regional digital commerce and fintech ecosystem spanning Central Asia and Türkiye.

Marketplace revenue rose 49% year-over-year to roughly $1.1 billion, supported by stronger consumer demand, increased order frequency, and deeper engagement across its integrated services. Revenue generated from advertising and logistics services surged 73%, demonstrating the growing monetization potential of Kaspi.kz’s broader ecosystem infrastructure.

The company’s expansion strategy in Türkiye appears to be gaining momentum as it integrates Hepsiburada into its platform operations while leveraging cross-border commerce and digital payment capabilities.

Profitability Pressured by Investments and Funding Costs

Despite the strong top-line growth, profitability remained under pressure during the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9% year-over-year to $768 million, while net income remained relatively stable at $526 million.

Kaspi.kz attributed the slower profit growth to higher funding costs in Kazakhstan as well as continued investments tied to the integration and scaling of Hepsiburada’s operations in Türkiye.

The company also completed a $600 million Eurobond issuance with a five-year maturity during the quarter, strengthening its liquidity position and supporting future strategic investments.

Regional E-Commerce Competition Intensifies

Kaspi.kz’s expansion comes at a time when competition across emerging e-commerce markets is intensifying. Companies throughout Central Asia, the Middle East, and Türkiye are increasingly investing in marketplace ecosystems, fintech integration, logistics infrastructure, and AI-powered commerce tools to capture long-term digital retail growth.

By combining fintech services, payments, marketplace operations, and logistics within a single ecosystem, Kaspi.kz continues to differentiate itself from more traditional e-commerce players operating in the region.

The company maintained its full-year 2026 guidance, signaling confidence in continued growth across both Kazakhstan and Türkiye as digital commerce adoption accelerates across the wider region.

Source: TradingView