2015 was record year for e-commerce in Belgium

E-commerce in Belgium last year reached a record turnover of €8.2 billion, according to industry group BeCommerce, thanks in part to an exceptional fourth quarter. Online spending in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 8% higher than in the third quarter.

An estimated 75% of the Belgian population aged 15 or older bought something online between October and December, 2015, with each online shopper spending an average of €102 per purchase. Toy sales scored exceptionally well in the same period, accounting for 58% of the total online expenditure.

About one-quarter of the purchases were for services, while about 72% of the purchases were for goods. The most common purchases were plane tickets, accommodation, package holidays and tickets for events and attractions, but toys, consumer electronics, media and entertainment, and health products were equally popular among Belgian consumers.