Growth predicted for Russian eCommerce

The Ministry of Industry and Trade predicts an increase in the share of Internet trade.

By 2024, online product sales are expected to grow to 19%. In three years, the turnover in the industry will amount to over 7 trillion rubles. In 2019, online stores earned 2 trillion rubles. The World Wide Web in Russia is used by 80% of the population.

As an example: in the first nine months of 2020, Metro network’s online sales to end users made up 6% of the company's turnover in Russia. During peak periods, this figure reached 9%. Thus, the e-grocery channel has more than tripled compared to 2019.One of the drivers of online sales growth was the launch of small format dark stores in Metro hypermarkets.

At the same time, the Federal Customs Service plans to regulate online trade in Russia. Customs officials, together with the Ministry of Finance and other departments, have developed and put forward for consideration by the Eurasian Economic Commission a concept for regulating electronic commerce, within which it is proposed to single out online trade goods in a separate category and introduce the institute of Internet trade operators in Russia. They will be authorized companies that, in the name of and on behalf of citizens, must ensure the entire supply chain from purchase on the Internet site to delivery to the final customer – presumably, Russian Post, DHL, UPS, FedEx and TNT.