Core Insights - DHL's e-commerce business unit released its first commercial report in the "2025 E-commerce Trends Report" series, gathering insights from 4,050 e-commerce companies across Europe, America, and Asia-Pacific, highlighting how businesses can achieve sales growth and success in a rapidly changing digital environment through omnichannel strategies, AI-driven personalization, cross-border expansion, and increasing importance of sustainability and logistics excellence [1][3]. Group 1: E-commerce Trends - The report reveals that as "Black Friday" approaches and global e-commerce accelerates, companies are preparing for peak sales seasons and long-term growth by investing in logistics speed, building consumer trust, and optimizing personalized services [3]. - A broad survey covering 19 global markets found that nearly half of the companies have integrated AI into their operations, with the application rate in B2B e-commerce reaching 61%, focusing on personalized recommendations, content generation, and customer service [3][4]. - Social commerce is thriving, with 87% of companies engaging in social media, primarily on TikTok and Instagram, and 76% of e-commerce businesses expect social commerce sales to continue growing over the next five years [3][4]. Group 2: Logistics and Sales Strategies - Logistics is deemed a critical factor for sales, with 96% of retailers believing that logistics services are essential for ensuring sales, and 86% stating that free shipping and return services effectively boost sales [4]. - 78% of B2B retailers anticipate growth in website sales, and 61% have implemented AI across platforms, indicating a rapid evolution of the B2B e-commerce ecosystem towards consumer shopping speed, personalization, and innovation standards [4]. - 63% of retailers sell on three or more platforms, with 68% on Amazon and 87% active on social media, emphasizing the necessity of reaching users where they are [4]. Group 3: International Trade and Consumer Behavior - 64% of e-commerce retailers are engaged in international sales, with large enterprises at 88% and medium-sized enterprises at 85%, utilizing IOSS and EORI codes to optimize cross-border trade, while over half prefer DDP terms to simplify customs and tax processes [4]. - The report highlights a generational shift in consumer behavior, with Gen Z and Millennials dominating weekly online spending, while Generation Alpha is emerging as a new influential force in household purchasing [4][5]. Group 4: Subscription Models and Sales Events - 52% of companies offer product subscription services, and 14% provide subscription services for delivery and returns, indicating a shift in user loyalty strategies [5]. - 84% of retailers plan to participate in the 2025 "Black Friday" sales event, with 60% reporting year-on-year sales growth attributed to this event, although small businesses and individual merchants show a more subdued performance, with only 48% achieving growth [5]. - Convenience pick-up points are seen as essential by 96% of large and medium-sized e-commerce retailers for driving sales and repeat purchases, while 53% of individual merchants rely on this service for parcel delivery [5].

Core Insights - TikTok Shop's global GMV reached $25 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 120% year-on-year growth, with the US leading at $5.45 billion [1][17][20] - The platform is expanding its global presence, particularly in mature markets like the US and emerging markets in Southeast Asia, with new sites launched in Germany, Italy, and France [14][16] - The beauty and personal care category dominates sales in multiple countries, with the US generating $1.221 billion in this category alone [1][46] Global Performance - TikTok Shop's global GMV for the first half of 2025 was $25 billion, with significant contributions from the US ($5.45 billion), Thailand ($5.42 billion), and Indonesia ($4.34 billion) [1][17][20] - Southeast Asia showed remarkable growth, with Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore all exceeding 100% growth rates [1][17] - The platform's expansion strategy has effectively diversified regional risks and provided sustained growth momentum [14][16] Market Trends - Video marketing is the primary sales driver, with the US averaging over 4 million videos per month, while Indonesia also sees high engagement with 4 million videos monthly [1][20] - The US market's top categories include beauty and personal care, women's clothing, and health products, with the top five categories accounting for 64% of total GMV [46][48] - Price segmentation shows that products priced between $30-$50 contributed significantly to GMV, indicating a shift from low-cost items to higher-value products [50][51] Regional Insights - The US market remains a core focus for TikTok Shop, with a stable growth trajectory and a significant share of overall GMV [31][41] - Emerging markets like Spain and Mexico, although smaller in scale, are experiencing rapid growth, with Spain's GMV increasing by 115% year-on-year [31][32] - Southeast Asia is leading in growth rates, with Thailand's GMV increasing by 162% compared to the previous year [17][20] Future Outlook - TikTok Shop plans to enhance its technological capabilities with the introduction of an "AI product selection assistant" to further optimize its offerings [1] - The platform is expected to continue leading in the US market while emerging markets will become new growth engines, expanding TikTok Shop's influence in the global social commerce landscape [1][14]

Market Growth and Potential - Southeast Asia is a significant economic engine in the Asia-Pacific region, with the e-commerce market accelerating since the mid-2010s. The total Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is expected to reach $159 billion in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 15%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is projected to be 10.42% until 2029. Indonesia leads with a GMV of $56.81 billion, while Malaysia has the lowest growth rate at 10.63%. Vietnam and Thailand are experiencing growth rates exceeding 15% [1][2][3]. Consumer Behavior and Preferences - In terms of product categories, electronics are the best-selling items in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while fashion, food, and beauty products are also popular. Indonesia shows a strong demand for food products, and Thailand has a high demand for beauty and personal care items. Shopee dominates the market with the highest monthly traffic across all five countries, particularly in Vietnam (170 million) and Indonesia (130 million). TikTok Shop, although not included in website traffic rankings, is rapidly growing, with a projected GMV of over $21 billion in 2024, primarily in Thailand and Indonesia. Social media penetration exceeds 70%, and mobile e-commerce accounts for over 60% of B2C transactions in Indonesia and Thailand [2][3][4]. E-commerce Platform Competitive Landscape - Shopee leads the market with a 45.9% market share, followed by Lazada. The merger of TikTok and Tokopedia has resulted in a combined market share of 28.1%, reshaping the competitive landscape. TEMU, under Pinduoduo, has quickly entered multiple markets with a daily GMV exceeding $1 million, although it faces regulatory challenges. The main sales categories are electronics, fashion, and beauty, with TikTok Shop's beauty and personal care sales accounting for 38% of its total sales. Shopee has significant traffic advantages in Vietnam and Indonesia, while Tokopedia's monthly traffic in Indonesia exceeds 60 million [3][4][5]. Regulations, Logistics, and Market Entry - Foreign investment regulations vary, with the Philippines and Vietnam being more open to foreign capital, allowing cross-border sales without local entities. In contrast, Indonesia and Thailand have strict requirements for establishing local entities, with Indonesia imposing a foreign ownership limit of 49% (up to 100% under specific conditions). Logistics costs as a percentage of GDP vary significantly, with the Philippines at 27% and Thailand at 14%. Malaysia and Thailand exhibit higher logistics efficiency, while overall tariffs are low, though certain categories (like electronics and toys) require certification, with Indonesia's import tariffs reaching as high as 150% [4][5]. Emerging Trends and Opportunities - Social commerce and live streaming are on the rise, with TikTok Shop's sales expected to grow by 115% year-on-year in 2024, driven primarily by Thailand and Indonesia, contributing over 60% of sales. KOL marketing is becoming a key strategy for brands to reach consumers, with Facebook and TikTok as primary platforms for collaboration. Chinese platforms are also emerging, with Alibaba investing over $5.8 billion in Lazada, and Chinese companies deeply engaging in regional competition through capital cooperation and localization strategies. The report highlights that Southeast Asia's e-commerce market presents high growth potential and complexity, necessitating businesses to adapt to local regulations, logistics characteristics, and consumer preferences while leveraging social marketing and localization strategies for market expansion [5][6].