E-commerce sales surpassed the $1 trillion mark last year for the very first time, according to a report from eMarketer. Sales in 2012 increased 21.1 percent versus year-ago levels.
Business-to-consumer e-commerce sales are expected to grow 18.3 percent in 2013, reaching $1.298 trillion. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to eclipse North America in sales this year to become the world's leading region for B2C e-commerce sales, due primarily to huge increases being posted in China.
The top five countries in e-commerce sales in 2012:
- United States. Sales of $343 billion represented a 13.8 percent increase. This volume was 31.5 percent of the total global e-commerce sales last year. Sales are projected to grow 12.0 percent in 2013 to $384 billion.
- Japan. Sales of $127 billion were 13.3 percent above 2011. Sales are forecast to be $140 billion in 2013, up 10 percent.
- United Kingdom. Sales of $124 billion in 2012, a 14.4 percent jump. 2013 sales are expected to increase 13.4 percent to $141 billion.
- China. Sales of $110 billion were up 94 percent versus a year ago. Projected to increase 65 percent in 2013 to $181 billion.
- Germany. Sales of $47 billion in 2012, up 23.4 percent. Sales expected to reach $53 billion in 2013, a jump of 12.7 percent.
