{"url":"https://www.clear.sale/blog/global-e-commerce-growth-what-and-who-is-hot","title":"Global E-Commerce Growth: What — and Who — Is Hot","tldr":"All merchants shall prepare and understand the latest e-commerce trends, best international markets and most popular products global consumers are buying.","markdown":"**Global retail e-commerce sales** are projected to top **[$2.3 trillion in 2017](https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Worldwide-Retail-Ecommerce-Sales-Will-Reach-1915-trillion-This-Year/1014369)**, with expected sales of more than four trillion dollars by 2020. And retailers are finding that this e-commerce volume is making up a bigger piece of total retail spending — estimated to hit 14.6% in 2020, up from 10% in 2017.\n\nThis growth is showing no signs of slowing down, and merchants should prepare to leverage the new opportunities **[global e-commerce](/blog/cross-border-e-commerce-how-to-build-trust-among-international-consumers)** holds. But first, they must understand the latest e-commerce trends, best international markets and most popular **products global consumers are buying.**\n\n[IMG]\n\nSource: [eMarketer](https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Worldwide-Retail-Ecommerce-Sales-Will-Reach-1915-trillion-This-Year/1014369)\n\n## The Top Global E-Commerce Markets\n\n[Research suggests](https://www.remarkety.com/global-ecommerce-trends-2016) that 53% of global internet users made an online purchase in 2016 – or approximately one billion people. Not to mention that 65% of consumers would purchase globally rather than locally if the price is right.\n\nJust look at the top 10 e-commerce markets by country:\n\n- China: $1 trillion\n\n- United States: $396 billion\n\n- United Kingdom: $166 billion\n\n- Japan: $124 billion\n\n- Germany: $106.9 billion\n\n- France: $72 billion\n\n- South Korea: $38 billion\n\n- Canada: $20 billion\n\n- Russia: $15.7 billion\n\n- Brazil: $14.6 billion\n\nSource: [Remarkety](https://www.remarkety.com/global-ecommerce-trends-2016), 2016\n\nAsia-Pacific remains the world’s largest retail e-commerce market with sales topping one trillion dollars in 2016, and it’s expected to more than double to $2.725 trillion by 2020. This region also saw the fastest rise in retail e-commerce sales, climbing 31.5% in 2016.\n\nAn expanding middle class, greater mobile and internet availability, the growing competition of e-commerce retailers and improved logistics and infrastructure all fueled this dramatic e-commerce growth.\n\n**Some markets still emerging onto the e-commerce scene include:**\n\n- India: $14.5 billion in revenue\n\n- Poland: $6 billion in revenue\n\n- Middle East: 30 million e-commerce shoppers\n\nSource: [Remarkety](https://www.remarkety.com/global-ecommerce-trends-2016), 2016\n\nResearch shows that slightly more than [64% of the Chinese online population](https://www.statista.com/statistics/261661/digital-buyer-penetration-in-china/) has made an e-commerce purchase, while the United States has just more than [57% of the population](https://www.remarkety.com/global-ecommerce-sales-trends-and-statistics-2015) shopping online. Japan, in contrast, has a staggering [80% of its population](https://www.remarkety.com/global-ecommerce-sales-trends-and-statistics-2015) doing online shopping.\n\n## What Global Customers are Buying Online\n\nBooks, electronics and clothing are among the top purchases for global online shoppers. But what else are consumers buying?\n\n**Product**\n\n**Annual Sales**\n\n**Market Share**\n\nSoftware, Books, Music, Flowers\n\n$38.05 billion\n\n26%\n\nComputer Hardware, Consumer Electronics, Office Supplies\n\n$24.8 billion\n\n16%\n\nApparel, Footwear, Jewelry, Linens/Home Decor\n\n$22 billion\n\n13%\n\nHealth, Beauty, Food and Beverage\n\n$12.4 billion\n\n8%\n\nToys, Video Games, Sporting Goods\n\n$10.975 billion\n\n7%\n\nSmall Appliances, Furniture, Tools, Garden Equipment\n\n$5.275 billion\n\n3%\n\nSource. [Statistic Brain](http://www.statisticbrain.com/top-selling-internet-items/)\n\n**Rank**\n\n**Best-Selling Internet Products**\n\n1\n\nWomen’s Apparel\n\n2\n\nBooks\n\n3\n\nComputer Hardware\n\n4\n\nComputer Software\n\n5\n\nApparel\n\n6\n\nToys/Video Games\n\n7\n\nVideos/DVDs\n\n8\n\nHealth and Beauty\n\n9\n\nConsumer Electronics\n\n10\n\nMusic\n\n11\n\nJewelry\n\n12\n\nOffice Supplies\n\n13\n\nLinens/Home Decor\n\n14\n\nFlowers\n\n15\n\nSporting Goods\n\n16\n\nFootwear\n\n17\n\nSmall Appliances\n\n18\n\nTools and Garden\n\n19\n\nGifts\n\nSafely Expand into International E-Commerce Markets\n\nGlobal e-commerce is a huge opportunity for online retailers, but it can pose serious risks to those merchants who aren’t prepared to deal with the [potential for fraud](/blog/what-to-know-before-you-start-shipping-internationally), [payment issues](//blog.clear.sale/post/is-your-international-payment-gateway-increasing-your-risk-for-fraud) and cultural nuances.\n\nYou can count on the experts at ClearSale to help you navigate the tricky waters of international sales. **[Talk with a ClearSale expert](https://www.clear.sale/contact) today to learn how our multilayered approach can provide peace of mind as you grow your global e-commerce business.**\n\n****"}