December E-Commerce Sales Reach $499.6bn

After an unusually strong November, e-commerce activity eased in December as the holiday shopping rush began to fade. Even so, year-on-year sales rose by 11.3%, keeping online retail on a solid growth path into the end of 2025.

Global Sales Cool After November Peak

ECDB data shows global e-commerce revenue reached $499.6 billion in December, below November’s peak, which marked the strongest month of the year. December typically benefits from last-minute holiday purchases, but the scale of November’s promotions pulled some demand forward.

For European retailers, the figures suggest a market that is stabilising rather than weakening, with growth spreading across multiple regions instead of relying on a single engine.

China Stays Ahead as South Korea Trails

China remained the fastest-growing major market, posting 12.6% growth compared with December last year. The United States followed with an 11.1% increase, while the UK saw sales rise by 8.1%. Growth in Germany reached 4.6%, and France recorded 5.5%.

South Korea once again lagged behind, with e-commerce expanding by just 1.5%, the slowest pace among the markets tracked.

Source: ECDB

Care Products Lead Category Growth

In terms of product mix, December growth was led by everyday consumer categories. Care products grew by 12.5% year over year, making them the top-performing segment. Fashion and DIY both expanded by 11.4%, while electronics sales rose by 11.2%, holding up despite heavy discounting earlier in the quarter.

Little Movement Among Platforms and Payments

The ranking of leading payment providers, shipping companies and shop software showed little change in December. Established providers continued to dominate, reflecting merchants’ preference for proven partners during the year’s most important sales period.

In 2026, the data points to steady demand but growing pressure on margins and execution, especially for European sellers facing a more competitive and price-sensitive market.