BUCHAREST, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Online sales in Romania increased by more than 9 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to a survey released on Wednesday by e-commerce platform MerchantPro.
The report highlights significant growth in the second quarter, with online sales rising by over 12 percent.
The rate of growth for orders placed by customers in the first half of 2024 was 6.71 percent, similar to the previous year.
Key trends and challenges in Romania's e-commerce market include automation and artificial intelligence, customer loyalty, diversification of business models, and increased competition, according to the survey.
Experts note that while the market continues to grow, it faces fiercer competition, particularly from strong international competitors like Shein and Temu.
According to McKinsey, Romania's e-commerce market was valued at 9.8 billion euros in 2023, with 65 percent of sales in goods and 35 percent in services, representing 11 percent of total retail.
Romania ranked third in e-commerce in Central and Eastern Europe in 2023, following Poland and the Czech Republic, but ahead of Hungary and Bulgaria. ■
