E-commerce shipping in France – statistics & facts
France is one of Europe’s biggest e-commerce markets. In 2022, revenue in the French e-commerce market reached approximately 147 billion euros, exhibiting consistent year-on-year growth since the turn of the century. As e-commerce gains more relevance and people increasingly rely on online shopping and integrate it into their daily life, the question of e-commerce shipping and delivery takes center stage, particularly in a time when transportation and energy costs have skyrocketed.
However, supply chain disruptions and rising costs have made delivery very costly for retailers. In 2023, a survey revealed that increasing transportation and delivery costs were the leading issue impacting around three in four e-commerce merchants in France. When asked about the measures taken to face inflation, most surveyed retailers cited price increases (83 percent), but just over half of them said they also had to reduce their profit margins.
Are delivery conditions the main culprit for cart abandonment?
When it comes to online shopping, delivery conditions are of utmost importance to consumers, particularly after the return of in-store shopping post-pandemic. In 2022, cart abandonment rates when shoppers’ favorite courier was unavailable were high across different European territories. In France, that figure was 36 percent. In Sweden, it was almost 60 percent. Delivery options were also the top reason for cart abandonment among shoppers worldwide, a strong indicator that shipping and delivery conditions should be a top priority for e-retailers looking to increase sales. In France, around 72 percent of e-shoppers reported not completing their e-commerce orders when the cost of delivery was too high. Another delivery-related reason for cart abandonment was delay in estimated delivery time, and the unavailability of shoppers’ preferred delivery method.Who pays for delivery and returns in times of stagflation?
In a time when inflation is applying significant pressure on household consumption, e-commerce retailers are experiencing challenges on many fronts. Most online shoppers still want to receive free returns on their e-commerce orders, an expectation that further strains retailers already impacted by rising costs. While it’s true that many online shoppers are expecting e-commerce delivery fees to increase in 2023, the share of those willing to pay for e-commerce product returns is much lower. Only 23 percent of French e-shoppers said they were willing to pay for online shopping returns. The share of consumers thinking retailers should bear the cost of online returns remains much higher: In France, a staggering 61 percent of online shoppers believe retailers should handle the cost of reverse logistics.However, supply chain disruptions and rising costs have made delivery very costly for retailers. In 2023, a survey revealed that increasing transportation and delivery costs were the leading issue impacting around three in four e-commerce merchants in France. When asked about the measures taken to face inflation, most surveyed retailers cited price increases (83 percent), but just over half of them said they also had to reduce their profit margins.
