Online transactions with bank cards rise to EUR 32 mln

The volume of online transactions with bank cards in Romania amounted to EUR 31.85 million in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 70 percent compared to the same period last year, according to data from Romcard. During this interval, 603,437 transactions were processed.

“These results are encouraging for the Romanian electronic commerce market. Although initial estimations indicated a moderate growth, this first quarter started in force due to the entering of some new players in the online medium. Electronic commerce remains a domain with growth potential,” said Carmen Sebe, CEO of GECAD ePayment. Through the ePayment platform there were 575,000 transactions, with a total value of EUR 30.25 million.

In the first quarter of 2010, the average value of a transaction was EUR 52, down on the same period last year, when the registered value was EUR 77. This is due to both new players with lower-value products and services entering the market as well as most firms and online stores offering promotions.

The best sold products in this period were from categories such as telecom, tourism, services, payment of utilities, retail and entertainment. Tourism posted the most spectacular increase in the number of transactions: 270 percent more than in the previous year. Telecom, utilities payment and entertainment also saw rises of 230, 178 and 160 percent, respectively.

“The payment of utilities is a key domain this year. Over the next period, we will witness a substantial growth in the number of transactions in this field. Over the following months, we also expect a good evolution in tourism, given that the summer vacation is approaching, as well as in entertainment,” said Sebe. “Overall, electronic commerce will maintain the growth tendency by the end of the year, compared to 2009.”

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