E-commerce increases 75 percent in 2009 but average transaction value falls

Electronic commerce consisting of online payment by bank card increased by 75 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 to reach EUR 92.8 million, according to data from RomCard. The number of transactions registered in 2009 reached 1.2 million, twice the number in 2008. Some 1.1 million transactions were processed through the ePayment system, with a volume of EUR 88 million.

“E-commerce was not that badly affected by the crisis and continues to remain an industry with growth potential over the next year. The unfavorable economic situation drove companies to choose more efficient solutions with easily measurable results and which involve lower costs, so many of them went online,” said Carmen Sebe, CEO of GECAD ePayment. The transaction value per quarter amounted to EUR 16.9 million in Q1, EUR 23.5 million in Q2, EUR 25 million in Q3 and EUR 22.2 million in Q4. In 2009, the average value of a transaction was EUR 79, similar to the figure in 2007 but below the EUR 85 in 2008. There was little change in what kind of items shoppers bought online over the past two years. Telecom products make up 45 percent of the number of transactions processed through ePayment, tourism 38 percent, services 10 percent and e-tail 7 percent.

Otilia Haraga

Read more about

Air Show in Bucharest on Saturday for Aviation Day: dozens of military aircraft to fly over Aviatorilor Square

read more