online commerce

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.

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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.

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Positive Mother’s Day Shopping Boom to Generate $9 Billion in Türkiye’s E-Commerce Market

Türkiye’s e-commerce sector is expected to generate nearly $9 billion in transaction volume this May as online shopping activity accelerates ahead of Mother’s Day, according to industry representatives. The surge highlights the growing importance of special occasions in driving digital commerce across the country.

What Happened?

The Electronic Commerce Operators Association (ETİD) estimates that Türkiye’s total e-commerce volume could reach around 400 billion Turkish Liras (approximately $9 billion) during May, fueled largely by Mother’s Day shopping demand.

According to ETİD Chairman Hakan Çevikoğlu, online demand has significantly increased across several gift-oriented categories, including:

Jewelry
Fashion and footwear
Cosmetics
Home textiles
Baby products
Accessories and handbags

Çevikoğlu stated that Mother’s Day has become Türkiye’s second-largest gift shopping period after New Year celebrations, with online purchasing activity beginning in late April and continuing throughout May.

Jewelry and Fashion Lead the Growth

The strongest increase in demand has been recorded in the jewelry category, particularly gold products, where order volumes reportedly climbed by as much as 70 percent ahead of the holiday.

Average basket sizes have also increased in several product categories. Spending per order rose by around 20 percent in home textile and baby product segments, while fashion-related purchases such as sunglasses, accessories, handbags, and clothing also recorded higher average spending levels.

Industry representatives attribute much of the momentum to aggressive promotional campaigns launched by online marketplaces and retailers before the holiday period.

Digital Shopping Habits Continue to Grow

The latest figures reflect Türkiye’s broader shift toward digital commerce and mobile shopping habits. Consumers are increasingly turning to online platforms for seasonal and emotionally driven purchases, including flowers, chocolates, and curated gift boxes.

Çevikoğlu noted that the growing digitalization of consumer behavior continues to strengthen the role of e-commerce during special shopping occasions and seasonal campaigns.

Consumers Warned About Online Fraud Risks

Alongside the expected growth, industry representatives also warned consumers to remain cautious while shopping online during high-demand periods.

ETİD advised shoppers to verify whether e-commerce websites carry Türkiye’s official “Trust Stamp” certification and to carefully check website domain names to avoid fraudulent or imitation platforms.

What This Means for Türkiye’s E-Commerce Sector

The projected Mother’s Day shopping boom highlights the continued expansion of Türkiye’s digital retail ecosystem despite economic pressures and changing consumer spending patterns.

As promotional campaigns, mobile commerce adoption, and digital payment usage continue to grow, seasonal shopping periods are becoming increasingly important revenue drivers for marketplaces, retailers, and logistics providers across the country.

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Indonesia Plans New E-Commerce Rules After Seller Complaints

Indonesia is preparing to revise its e-commerce regulations following growing complaints from online sellers about rising platform fees and operational costs. The move reflects the government’s broader effort to create a fairer and more sustainable digital commerce ecosystem while strengthening protections for local businesses and consumers.

What Happened?

Indonesia’s Trade Ministry announced plans to revise Minister of Trade Regulation Number 31 of 2023, which currently governs e-commerce activities in the country. Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the revision comes after many sellers, especially small businesses, raised concerns over high administrative and logistics fees charged by online marketplaces.

While the government has not yet shared the full details of the revised regulation, officials confirmed that discussions with industry stakeholders are ongoing and that the new rules will focus on improving fairness across the sector.

Why Is Indonesia Revising the Rules?

Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing e-commerce markets. However, increasing competition among platforms has also led to concerns from sellers regarding profitability and sustainability.

According to the Trade Ministry, the revised regulation aims to:

Protect local products and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises)
Improve consumer protection
Encourage marketplaces to prioritize domestic products
Build a healthier and more sustainable e-commerce ecosystem
Strengthen collaboration between platforms, sellers, and regulators

Government officials emphasized that consultations with businesses and digital economy stakeholders are still continuing before the regulation is finalized.

Indonesia Increases Oversight of Digital Platforms

The planned revision comes as Indonesia continues tightening oversight across its digital economy. Earlier this month, authorities also introduced stricter child protection requirements for e-commerce platforms under new electronic system governance rules.

The measures require platforms to implement age verification systems, parental consent mechanisms for minors, and stronger privacy protections for children’s data.

These developments highlight Indonesia’s growing focus on building a more regulated, locally supportive, and consumer-focused digital marketplace environment.

What This Means for the Industry

If implemented, the revised rules could significantly impact how major e-commerce platforms operate in Indonesia. Marketplaces may face stricter obligations related to fee structures, seller protections, and domestic product prioritization.

The changes could particularly benefit local MSMEs, which play a major role in Indonesia’s economy but often struggle with rising costs on digital platforms.

For international and regional e-commerce companies, the upcoming regulation may also indicate stronger localization requirements and increased government involvement in marketplace operations.

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Shiprazor Raises $2.65M to Strengthen E-Commerce Logistics in South Africa

Shiprazor, a Cape Town-based e-commerce logistics startup, has raised $2.65 million in seed funding to expand its fulfilment platform and address fragmented delivery infrastructure across South Africa.

The funding round was led by Norrsken22, with participation from AAIC, E4E, Tremis Capital, and several angel investors, including senior Google executives. The latest investment brings Shiprazor’s total funding to $3.3 million.

Founded in 2023 by CEO Sahil Affriya, Shiprazor provides a software layer that connects online merchants with more than 20 courier partners through a single integration. The platform works with e-commerce systems such as Shopify and WooCommerce, helping merchants manage deliveries without relying on multiple disconnected logistics tools.

Shiprazor Targets Africa’s E-Commerce Logistics Fragmentation

Rather than operating as a traditional shipping aggregator, Shiprazor uses dynamic routing to select delivery options based on cost, speed, and courier performance. This model is designed to reduce fulfilment complexity for merchants and improve delivery reliability.

Logistics remains one of the biggest barriers to e-commerce growth in Africa. High transport costs, fragmented courier networks, and inconsistent service quality continue to make fulfilment difficult for online sellers.

Since its launch, Shiprazor has processed more than 1.5 million deliveries across South Africa. The company plans to use the new capital to expand its courier network, increase regional coverage, and lower shipping costs through stronger volume aggregation.

Shiprazor is also developing AI-powered tools, including an address verification product aimed at reducing failed deliveries caused by incorrect or incomplete address data. Looking ahead, the company is working on agentic AI solutions that could help buyers and merchants coordinate orders and resolve delivery issues with less manual intervention.

The investment reflects growing demand for infrastructure solutions that can support Africa’s expanding digital commerce market. For online merchants, more efficient logistics could become a critical factor in improving customer experience, reducing costs, and scaling operations.

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Live Commerce MENA Gains Momentum as Siin Secures $3 Million in Strategic Funding

Bahrain-based live commerce platform Siin has raised a total of $3 million in funding, reinforcing investor confidence in the emerging live shopping segment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The round was led by VentureSouq and Shift Group, with participation from Plus VC, Oqal, and a group of regional backers.

Founded in 2024, Siin operates at the convergence of e-commerce and real-time digital engagement, enabling users to buy and sell products through interactive livestreams. The platform reflects a broader shift toward experience-driven commerce, where purchasing decisions are increasingly shaped by trust, immediacy, and social interaction.

From Transactional to Interactive Commerce

Live commerce, already well established in Asian markets, is gaining traction in MENA, albeit from a relatively early-stage base. Siin’s model adapts this format to regional consumer behavior by replicating the dynamics of traditional marketplaces in a digital environment.

Rather than relying on static product listings, the platform allows sellers to engage directly with audiences in real time, combining entertainment, community interaction, and instant purchasing. This approach aligns closely with the region’s culturally embedded preference for relationship-driven commerce.

The company has already expanded across key Gulf markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, signaling early operational scalability.

Early Traction Signals Category Potential

Within a short period, Siin has facilitated hundreds of thousands of product transactions while generating tens of thousands of hours of live-streamed content, pointing to strong user engagement and repeat activity.

For investors, this traction highlights the platform’s potential to evolve beyond a conventional marketplace into a behavioral commerce layer, one that integrates content, community, and transaction into a unified ecosystem.

The opportunity is particularly notable given that live commerce remains underpenetrated in MENA compared to more mature digital markets, leaving room for category leaders to emerge.

Strategic Focus: Expansion and Infrastructure

The newly secured capital will support Siin’s next phase of growth, with a focus on:

Geographic expansion across additional MENA markets
Strengthening its seller and creator ecosystem
Enhancing platform infrastructure and user experience

The startup is also backed by regional innovation platforms such as Hub71 and telecom-led accelerator InspireU, providing further institutional support as it scales.

Positioning Within the Future of Commerce

As global e-commerce continues to shift toward more immersive and interactive formats, live commerce is increasingly viewed as a key growth frontier. Siin’s localized approach, anchored in regional consumer behavior, positions it to capture this transition within MENA.

While the segment is still developing, early indicators suggest that platforms combining content, trust, and real-time engagement may play a defining role in the next phase of digital commerce evolution across the region.

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Digital Economy Jobs Boom 21.2% 1 in 5 Filipinos Now Work Online

The Philippines’ digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, with more than one in five jobs now tied to the digital economy, signaling a major shift in how the country works and grows.

According to recent data, the digital economy employed around 10.39 million Filipinos in 2025, accounting for 21.2% of total national employment, a notable increase from previous years.

This surge highlights how digitalization is no longer limited to tech companies but is deeply embedded across industries, from e-commerce and logistics to IT services and digital media.

E-commerce Leads Employment Growth

Among all digital sectors, e-commerce dominates employment, contributing over 75% of digital jobs, making it the primary driver of digital workforce expansion.

Meanwhile, digital-enabling infrastructure, including ICT services and telecommunications, accounts for a significant portion of the remaining jobs, reinforcing the backbone of the country’s digital ecosystem.

Economic Contribution Continues to Rise

Beyond employment, the digital economy is also becoming a key economic pillar. In 2025, it generated approximately ₱2.74 trillion in gross value added, representing 9.8% of the Philippines’ GDP.

This steady growth reflects increasing digital adoption among businesses, the rise of online marketplaces, and the expansion of digital services nationwide.

A Structural Shift in the Labor Market

The data underscores a broader structural transformation in the Philippine labor market. Digital jobs are no longer niche, they are becoming mainstream, reshaping workforce demand and skill requirements.

As digital adoption continues, sectors such as fintech, logistics tech, digital marketing, and platform-based services are expected to create even more employment opportunities.

What It Means

The rapid expansion of digital employment signals both opportunity and urgency:

Opportunity for economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness
Urgency for upskilling the workforce to meet digital demands

With over 20% of jobs already digital, the Philippines is positioning itself as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic digital economies.

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E-Commerce Tensions Rise: South Korea Calls for “Mutual Respect” in US Dispute

South Korea has called for “healthy” and mutually respectful relations with the United States as tensions escalate over an ongoing investigation into e-commerce giant Coupang.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of maintaining strong alliances while addressing disputes through “common sense and principles.”

The remarks come amid growing friction between Seoul and Washington following a probe into Coupang, a US-listed e-commerce company, after a major data breach exposed the personal information of more than 33 million users.

E-Commerce Probe Triggers Lawmakers’ Pushback Against US Pressure

The issue has sparked political reaction inside South Korea. Around 90 lawmakers have criticized what they describe as US interference in domestic legal matters related to the investigation.

The group plans to formally protest to the US embassy in Seoul, insisting that the probe should proceed independently without external influence.

The dispute has also drawn attention due to Coupang’s lobbying activity in Washington. Reports indicate the company has spent over $1 million this year engaging with US policymakers, including the White House and Congress.

Data Breach at the Center of Diplomatic Friction

At the core of the conflict is a massive cybersecurity incident disclosed in 2025, which compromised sensitive customer data such as names, phone numbers, and delivery details.

The investigation into the breach has triggered broader geopolitical concerns, as US officials and lawmakers have raised questions about whether American firms are being unfairly targeted.

Recent developments suggest the situation is evolving beyond a regulatory issue into a diplomatic challenge, with both countries attempting to balance legal processes and strategic cooperation.

A Test for US–South Korea Economic Relations

The Coupang case highlights the growing intersection between e-commerce regulation, data security, and international relations. While both governments have reiterated their commitment to cooperation, the dispute underscores how digital economy issues can quickly escalate into broader geopolitical tensions.

For global e-commerce stakeholders, the situation serves as a reminder that data governance and cross-border business operations are increasingly tied to political dynamics, especially when major platforms operate across jurisdictions.

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Quiqup Expands Into Platform-Led Commerce With “Shop Local” Initiative

UAE-based logistics company Quiqup has taken a strategic step beyond its traditional delivery operations with the launch of a new platform designed to support local business growth. The initiative, introduced under the name “Shop Local,” reflects a broader shift in the e-commerce landscape where logistics providers are moving closer to the consumer-facing layer of digital commerce.

The platform is built to bring together UAE-based brands in a single environment, enabling customers to discover and purchase from local businesses while benefiting from integrated fulfillment and delivery services. By combining visibility with logistics infrastructure, Quiqup is positioning itself not only as a service provider but as an active enabler of e-commerce expansion.

This move comes at a time when competition in the UAE’s online retail market is intensifying. While large marketplaces continue to dominate traffic and transactions, smaller businesses often face challenges in gaining visibility and managing operational complexity. Quiqup’s approach addresses both of these constraints by creating a more streamlined path from product discovery to final delivery.

The Convergence of Logistics and Marketplace Models

At its core, the “Shop Local” platform reflects a deeper transformation in how digital commerce ecosystems are evolving. Logistics is no longer operating purely in the background. Instead, it is becoming embedded within the customer journey, reducing friction between sellers and buyers. For local businesses, this integration can significantly lower the barriers to entry, particularly in areas such as last-mile delivery, order management, and customer experience.

Supporting Local Business in a Competitive Market

The emphasis on supporting local brands also aligns with wider economic priorities in the UAE, where strengthening domestic business ecosystems and encouraging entrepreneurship remain key focus areas. By highlighting locally based sellers, the platform contributes to increasing their exposure in a market that is otherwise highly competitive and often dominated by global players.

From a strategic perspective, Quiqup’s expansion into a platform model signals a growing convergence between logistics and marketplace functions. Companies that were once confined to backend operations are now building direct connections with both merchants and consumers. This convergence is expected to reshape competitive dynamics, as businesses look for integrated solutions rather than managing multiple service providers.

At the same time, the success of such platforms will depend on their ability to balance visibility, reliability, and user experience. For SMEs, consistent delivery performance and ease of use remain critical factors in determining whether a platform can genuinely support long-term growth.

The launch of “Shop Local” therefore represents more than a new product offering. It highlights an ongoing shift toward more connected and infrastructure-driven commerce models, where logistics providers play a central role in enabling business expansion.

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Top 3 Nordic Retailers Lead Europe’s Cross-Border Seller Ranking

Europe’s cross-border ecommerce market is being led by major Nordic multichannel retailers, with Ikea, Jysk and H&M ranking as the best-performing cross-border sellers in Europe. The ranking comes from the eighth edition of the TOP 500 B2C Cross-Border Retail Europe report by Cross-Border Commerce Europe.

The report evaluates companies based on several factors, including sales performance, SEO indicators, international market presence, cross-border visitors, brand authority and local customer options. Ikea kept its leading position, while Jysk moved up from fifth place to second. H&M remained in third place.

Retail Leaders Dominate Cross-Border Sellers in Europe

The top three companies all come from the Nordics and have strong physical retail backgrounds, showing that store-based brands continue to play a major role in online international commerce. Germany’s Zalando is the first pure online player on the list.

Cross-Border Commerce Europe estimates that cross-border ecommerce spending in Europe reached 108 billion euros in 2025, excluding travel. The TOP 500 companies generated 86 billion euros in cross-border online sales, marking 25 percent growth compared to the previous year.

Despite this growth, the market is entering a slower and more stable phase, shaped by macroeconomic pressure and a stronger focus on profitability and operational efficiency.

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