By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE,28th May 2018: More Australians are shopping online than ever, with total purchases topping $21 billion for the first time, according to new research from Australia Post. Australia Post today released its annual Inside Australian Online Shopping Report – an overview of Australia’s eCommerce market which identifies who is buying what and where online.
The report showed that Australians spent $21.3 billion last year – an 18.7 percent increase compared with 2016. Local retailers accounted for more than 80 percent of the total spend.
Australia Post General Manager for Parcels & Express Services, Ben Franzi, said Australians shopped online to access greater value, choice, and convenience, and a clear example of this was the rise of online marketplaces.
“Marketplaces – such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy – are booming, growing 74.8 percent in the past year alone,” Mr. Franzi said.
“Australians really appreciate the convenience of being able to access goods from a variety of sellers in the one location.
“In the past year, we have seen new marketplace entrants, which is always great to see, in recognizing the increased customer traffic that this type of format offers.”
Mr. Franzi said marketplaces – such as Alibaba’s Tmall Global and JD.com – were also helping Australian retailers access the lucrative international market, the total online spend of which has increased 46.7 percent to $US1.57 trillion ($A2.08 trillion) in the past two years.
“Marketplaces make it easier for consumers in our key export markets – China, United States, and India – find Australian products and offer a more convenient way for local businesses to start selling overseas.
“By 2019, total online goods purchases from across the globe is set to reach $US2.16 trillion ($A2.86 trillion), so this market represents a huge opportunity for Australian retailers.”
Fashion, health supplements and other wellbeing products, and cosmetics are among Australia’s most popular online exports. Domestically, fashion continues to be the top-selling category, increasing 27.2 percent in the past year. Health and beauty products are also popular, growing 13.2 percent, while homewares and appliances recorded 10.9 percent growth.
The May/June period posted the strongest growth during 2017, with online purchases increasing 32.2 percent. Mr. Franzi attributed the increase to retailers offering end of financial year sales for longer, in some cases more than six weeks.
The November/December period remained the busiest time of the year in terms of volumes as people looked to buy Christmas presents online.
Point Cook in Victoria remained Australia’s number one online buying location in 2017, recording 22.6 percent growth. Toowoomba was the second biggest buying location, growing at 19.5 percent, while Liverpool was the third biggest, growing 21.1 percent.
To download a copy of the Inside Australian Online Shopping Report, which is based on Australia Post’s delivery data, please visit auspost.com.au/einsights
Top 10 online shopping buying locations and % growth
Point Cook, +22.6%
Toowoomba, +19.5%
Liverpool, +21.1%
Mackay, +25.1%
Cranbourne, +27.3%
Hoppers Crossing, +31.7%
Gosford, +19.8%
Campbelltown, +25.7
Mandurah, +17.2%
Bundaberg, +22.5%
*2017 calendar year compared with 2016 calendar year.
Source: Australia Post
