An electronic commerce aggregator reported that Filipinos increased their online shopping by 57 percent amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest growth in Southeast Asia.
According to the iPrice Group’s Map of E-commerce Report, the figure was double the 24-percent average “basket size” growth recorded for the region’s six major economies. “Basket size” refers to the amount added to an “online cart” in the digital shopping platforms.
Filipinos now spend an average of P1,311 a month on IPrice’s platform alone, the report said.
Singapore recorded a basket size of 51 percent while Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia recorded a growth rate of 38 percent, 31 percent, 24 percent, and 17 percent, respectively.
The Philippines also showed the highest increase in the usage of online shopping apps on Android phones. The report said Filipinos spent 53 percent more time in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of the year. The total number of sessions in shopping apps reached 4.9 billion.
“It’s expected that e-Commerce players in countries that underwent strict social distancing measures experienced growth in mobile app usage/downloads, but it is still important to note the country’s hastened growth,” iPrice said.
Filipinos record highest online shopping growth in Southeast Asia
Indonesia ranked number one in the region in terms of the number of sessions (28.5 billion), but the growth rate of 34 percent was below the regional average of 39 percent. Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore logged respective growth rates of 50 percent, 43 percent, 28 percent, and 25 percent.
The Philippines also logged a 24 percent increase in its downloads of online shopping apps on iPhones and Android phones in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter.
Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia had growth rates of 32 percent, 26 percent, and 25 percent, while downloads in Indonesia and Vietnam slowed down by 2 percent and 23 percent, respectively.
The Philippines “is now catching up to its Southeast Asian peers in terms of digital adaptations, especially since e-Commerce and digital services were not as accessible in the country,” iPrice said.
“Though the Philippines may not be as savvy with e-Commerce as its other Southeast Asian peers like Indonesia or Singapore, its gradual adaptation is still pretty evident. Overall, Southeast Asians are spending more money online this year, comparing the first half of 2020 with the first half of 2019,” it added.