Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Beijing, China
Last Updated: May 2024
6592Revenue
$2.4tr
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xbn
Employees
2m
Businesses
155k
Wages
$XX.Xbn
Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China industry analysis
The Mail-Order and Online Shopping industry's revenue is expected to grow by a CAGR of 16.9% over the five years through 2023, to total of $2.4 trillion. This includes a revenue increase of 16.2% in the current year. Factors driving industry growth include improved living standards, rising wages, higher internet penetration, increased acceptance of internet shopping, and a growing range of retailers selling a larger range of products online.Online retailing currently generates over 95.0% of industry revenue. According to the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and the National Bureau of Statistics, 845.0 million internet users in China had online shopping experiences as of December 2022. In 2022, the internet penetration rate in China reached 75.6%. The proportion of internet users that have purchased products online has risen from 48.9% in 2014 to 79.6% in 2022. The online retailing segment of this industry is forecast to continue expanding, gaining market share from the mail-order and telephone-order segments.Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of 14.5% over the next five years to $4.7 trillion in 2028. Improved ease of shopping online and the growing range of products available will drive this growth. Greater government assistance and strengthened regulations will also support the industry's development in the next five years. However, the industry is expected to experience competition from other industries, such as online secondhand trading (e.g., eBay) and online retailing by existing retailers and manufacturers.
Trends and Insights
- The market share of mail-order business has decreased. The online retail department is seizing market share in mail order and telephone retail businesses.
- Digital appliances are the largest sector. Standardized market and after-sales service will enhance consumers' confidence in purchasing electronic products.
- Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai have well-developed logistics systems. Benefit from the logistics system, online shopping in these areas is cheaper and more convenient.
- Commodity and transportation prices are key factors. Some operators offer free delivery services to attract consumers.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 16.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.4tr in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The mail-order business is shrinking
- In mail-order businesses, operators distribute catalogs through magazines or newspapers or mail them to customers. In telephone-order businesses, orders are immediately accepted and processed. For such orders, call centers are often needed, which is labor-intensive.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Product quality and after-sales service will become the key to competition
- Online retailers typically have less opportunity to inspect the quality of the goods they sell, leaving potential quality problems for customers.
Biggest companies in the Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China
| Company | Market Share (%)
2023 | Revenue ($short_0)
2023 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Clothes, shoes and bags, Books and audio/video products and Cosmetics and jewelry. Clothes, shoes and bags is the largest segment of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China.
Trends and Insights
Digital appliances account for the largest proportion
- Digital appliances are the largest product segment within the Mail-Order and Online Shopping industry, accounting for 25.5% of total industry revenue in 2023.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Department Stores & Shopping Malls in China
- Clothing Stores in China
- Home Appliance Stores in China
Complementors
- Online Shopping in China
International industries
- E-Commerce & Online Auctions in the US
- E-Commerce & Online Auctions in Canada
- E-Commerce & Online Auctions in the UK
- E-Commerce in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Mail-Order and Online Shopping industry is part of China's retail sector. Operators in this industry retail a broad range of goods and services exclusively via the internet, telephone or mail-order. These products are then delivered to customers' designated locations.
What's included in this industry?
Clothes, shoes and bagsBooks and audio/video productsCosmetics and jewelryDigital appliancesPre-paid cardsToys and baby productsComputers and peripheralsCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
MAIL-ORDERINTERNET-ORDERTELEPHONE-ORDERPerformance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The market share of mail-order business has decreased. The online retail department is seizing market share in mail order and telephone retail businesses.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Digital appliances are the largest sector. Standardized market and after-sales service will enhance consumers' confidence in purchasing electronic products.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai have well-developed logistics systems. Benefit from the logistics system, online shopping in these areas is cheaper and more convenient.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Commodity and transportation prices are key factors. Some operators offer free delivery services to attract consumers.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Large enterprises dominate the market. Leading companies in the industry occupy a large market share.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Main purpose of regulations is to standardize the market. Relevant regulations have been implemented to stabilize the market and lead to a healthier and more mature retail ma...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit is driven by scale of enterprises. Large enterprises benefit from economies of scale and therefore have higher profits.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in China include:
- National Bureau of Statistics China
- General Administration of Customs
- People’s Bank of China
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China in 2024?
The market size of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China is $2.4tr in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China industry in 2024?
There are 155k businesses in the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 16.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China is expected to grow.
What does the Mail-Order & Online Shopping in China include?
Clothes, shoes and bags and Books and audio/video products are part of the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry.
How competitive is the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Mail-Order & Online Shopping industry in China.
