E-commerce market in Belgium in 2024
Belgium is the 39th largest e-commerce market in the world and forecasts indicate that the Belgian e-commerce market will grow at a CAGR of 7.42% through 2027, with expected revenues of $7.6 billion.
Are you planning to expand your operations to Belgium? Keep reading to learn more about the e-commerce market in Belgium!
E-commerce market in Belgium: facts and statistics
Home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, Belgium is not just an important player in terms of geopolitics. It also holds huge e-commerce potential. This potential largely remains untapped, making it a market that more and more parcel delivery services are looking into.
Despite its well-developed economy, online sales volumes in Belgium were projected to total $7.1 billion in 2023. This places Belgium as just the 39th largest e-commerce market in the world. But growth is emerging rapidly, making Belgium one of the economies with the highest unexplored market potential for parcel delivery services.
The volume of parcel and express services in Belgium more than quadrupled between 2010 and 2020 and predictions for 2024 suggest further expansion is coming. Forecasts indicate that the Belgian e-commerce market will grow at a CAGR of 7.42% through 2027, with expected revenues of $7.6 billion.
With sales and shipping volume only heading in one direction, e-commerce firms can’t afford to neglect the Belgian market for much longer. To make the most of this thriving market, however, businesses will need to work with the right carriers, employ the best software, and provide the delivery options that customers are demanding.
E-commerce delivery in Belgium
For customers to enjoy a positive experience, it’s essential that e-commerce firms work with the right carriers. In Belgium, some of the most popular carriers include bpost, PostNL Belgie, DHL, UPS, DPD, GLS, and FedEx. Based on the most recently available figures, PostNL (which includes deliveries to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as well as Belgium) distributes 384 million parcels in a calendar year. However, with more than 50% of the market share across the Belgian postal sector, bpost is likely to have delivered substantially more.
Many of the most popular carriers are global companies, with revenues drawn from shipments all over the world. Among the delivery firms that cover Belgium, the largest by revenue is UPS, which posted global figures of just over $93 billion. DHL and FedEx were not far behind, placing second and third respectively.
As with any market, the delivery options available to Belgian consumers are extremely important. For instance, bpost offers customers the choice of delivery to a home or work address, as well as to one of 3000 different pick-up points. PostNL Belgie offers around 800 pick-up locations, while FedEx lets customers choose from a number of different delivery speeds, including three different next-day services, and several value-add options.
Looking at e-commerce delivery in Belgium in greater detail, the most popular categories are fashion, electronics and media, furniture and appliances, food and personal care. The most popular online stores include the global e-commerce heavyweight Amazon and Bol.com, a webshop that serves customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Other leading marketplaces for Belgian shoppers include Aliexpress, Lidl.be and Coolblue.be.
Sustainable Delivery in Belgium
As with many other markets, sustainability is of huge importance in Belgium. However, the demand for parcel delivery can make this a challenge. The most recent statistics available (2020) show that 336 million parcels were delivered in Belgium within the calendar year. The CAGR figure for the country suggests that this would have risen to around 416 million parcels last year and that the country is on track to see just under 450 million parcels delivered in 2024. These numbers, of course, represent something of a dilemma for eco-conscious consumers in Belgium.
Although the exact emission levels will vary from delivery to delivery, the average parcel generates 100g of CO2 during shipment. While this figure represents a decrease from five years ago, it still has substantial environmental and social impact. In fact, recent research by Belgian newspaper De Standaard found that choosing the most sustainable delivery option can reduce the social impact of parcel delivery by 21%.
Fortunately, many carriers in Belgium do offer customers a sustainable delivery option. This includes bpost, which offers carbon-neutral shipping for all parcels in Belgium, and DHL, where over 100 million last-mile kilometers have been traveled using e-vehicles for deliveries. Many carriers also allow customers to choose pick-up points or out-of-home delivery for their parcels, which can also reduce emissions. Across 2022, Belgium’s pick-up point usage stood at 8.7% – higher than in the Netherlands, France, and Germany.
“The most recent statistics available (2020) show that 336 million parcels were delivered in Belgium within the calendar year”.
How to continue market growth without compromising sustainability
The number of Belgians purchasing goods from online retailers has never been higher, and growth in the country’s e-commerce sector shows no sign of stopping. If this growth is to continue, however, brands must find a way of marrying a good customer experience with a sustainable ethos.
Paazl’s shipping software can help your cross-border e-commerce business by providing an easy way to integrate a variety of local and international delivery options and a range of carriers into your online store. Expenses are reduced for you, and shipping is simplified for your consumers. With Paazl, you can grab a slice of the expanding e-commerce market in Belgium by offering customers delivery that delights.
Are you considering expanding your operations to Belgium with a multi-carrier shipping strategy? Get in touch to find out how we can help you.
