Romanians and e-commerce
Online sales of goods and services in Romania account for 3.17 percent of the GDP
Corina Cristea, 16.10.2023, 13:50
Romanians biggest fear when it comes to online shopping is related to payment security. Also, because of unpleasant experiences with ordered products, some people are reluctant. Statistical data show, at the same time, that for only 10% of companies in Romania, e-commerce represents at least 1% of the total turnover, placing the country in second last place in the European Union in terms of online commerce.
However, according to the 2023 European E-commerce Report, Romania is in third place in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of sales volume among the EU member states, after Poland and the Czech Republic, and in 12th place in Europe. Online sales of goods and services generate over 3% of Romanias Gross Domestic Product, according to reports by the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO). ARMO states that the e-commerce sector in Romania dominates the market in Eastern Europe, generating almost 60% of sales in the region, with a turnover estimated at almost 10 billion euros for the year 2023, out of a total of 17.6 billion euro.
“The report confirms Romanias status as a regional e-commerce hub, the ecosystem developed at the national level being a model of innovation and investment in the digital economy. (…) We see that Romanians want a wide range of products to choose from and they are looking for the concrete advantages brought by this sector, namely the saving of time and money. This is precisely why we are confident that the e-commerce sector in Romania will have a positive dynamic in the years to come,” said Cristian Pelivan, executive director of the Romanian Association of Online Stores.
94% of Romanian buyers prefer to order online from stores in Romania, but 21% have also ordered from foreign stores. At European level, the most ordered products are those from the clothing, footwear and clothing accessories category (68% of products ordered online), followed by books, CDs, DVDs (34%), deliveries from restaurants (30%) and cosmetics or beauty products (27%). According to ARMO, in the last three years, prices in the online environment have generally recorded an evolution below the inflation rate. Thus, in the first part of this year, significant decreases were observed in the price of food products, such as milk, sunflower oil or flour.
The 2023 European E-commerce Report covers 37 countries on the European continent, revealing data-driven insights into the current and projected size of their digital markets and consumer trends in internet usage and online shopping. Launched in 2010, the Romanian Association of Online Stores is a member of E-commerce Europe, the only voice of the European e-commerce sector, and represents over 150 thousand companies through national associations. (MI)
