Shoppers in Belgium spent 16.3 billion euros on-line final yr. In comparison with 2022, this is a rise of just about 11 p.c. The robust development was attributable to a rise in gross sales of on-line providers, like bundle holidays.

These knowledge come from the most recent Market Monitor from Becom, the Belgian ecommerce federation. In comparison with 2022, ecommerce in Belgium grew 10.7 p.c. In keeping with the report, this development is stronger than inflation within the nation, which was 2.3 p.c 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 the moment”, stated Greet Dekocker, managing director at Becom.

‘We’re seeing a full restoration in on-line spending on providers.’

“The robust enhance in on-line purchases is just not a lot attributable to ordering extra merchandise and garments, however it’s as a result of we’re shopping for extra providers – comparable to bundle holidays and airline tickets – on-line. We’re thus seeing a full restoration in on-line spending on providers (8 billion euros) for the primary time because the COVID-19 interval. Nearly 68 p.c of all providers are purchased on-line.”

High 3 on-line purchases

Belgian shoppers spent 28 p.c 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 p.c). Clothes got here in third place, with a complete of 1.6 billion euros. This was a slight lower of 1.8 p.c.

‘Belgian sellers must be lively on marketplaces’

The report additionally states that by the top 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 providers and merchandise for two.5 billion euros, to shoppers in different nations.

Taking into consideration the export quantity of Belgian sellers, the report states that buyers within the nation positioned purchases value a complete of 5.5 billion euros at international on-line shops or marketplaces. “To surf alongside on the rising ecommerce, Belgian retailers must be lively on marketplaces. Entrepreneurs who’ve already taken the plunge point out that they document a mean enhance in turnover of 23 p.c”, stated Dekocker.

‘With a greater illustration of sellers on marketplaces, shoppers can even discover extra Belgian on-line shops.’

“Therefore our recommendation: check your product vary on a market. In recent times, increasingly 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 can even discover Belgian on-line retailers. A win-win for our nation.”