• MarketMaze
  • Posts
  • ๐ŸŒ€AliExpress US surge, stumble in EU ๐ŸŒ

๐ŸŒ€AliExpress US surge, stumble in EU ๐ŸŒ

Plus: Influencer marketing market ๐Ÿ“Š

Welcome to MarketMaze, the #1 newsletter for staying on top of the latest in Ecommerce & Marketplaces. Get all the insights you need in just 5 minutes!

๐Ÿง  Big Story: 
AliExpress US surge, stumble in EU ๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ“Š Key Data:
Influencer marketing market ๐Ÿ“Š

๐Ÿ“– Ecommerce players news:
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Amazon directs shoppers to brands' sites for unavailable items
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Temu shifts supply chain model amid Trump tariffs
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Shopify Advocates for Open Trade Amid De Minimis Debate
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท Temu hires in Korea, plans local logistics system
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ TikTok introduces subscription service, challenging Amazon
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ AliExpress expands local payments in Africa.

+ over 15 other handpicked hot news from the last week you need to know ๐Ÿ”ฅ

Whatโ€™s next for the MarketMaze+ reports? You decide! Vote in the poll below. In the meantime, weโ€™re preparing dive into de minimis, the duty-free loophole fueling e-commerce growth (and headaches) in the U.S.

What's most interesting to you?

We will cover that topic next week!

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™‚Was this forwarded to you? Sign up !
๐Ÿ’Œ Did you want to help? Share this link !
๐Ÿ’–Do you like MarketMaze? Write as review !

AliExpress US surge, stumble in EU ๐ŸŒ

The global e-commerce landscape is shifting. While AliExpress is surging in the U.S., its European presence is fading. This rise in America is fueled by aggressive pricing, while its struggles in Europe stem from local competition and shifting consumer preferences. MarketMaze+ subscribers can access the full report with deeper market insights.
๐ŸŒ€AliExpress: Learning, Adapting & Expanding๐ŸŒŸ 

๐Ÿš€ AliExpress size growth globally

AliExpress is expected to reach $60B in 2024. With a 38% CAGR, it outpaced Amazonโ€™s 5% growth. Price-conscious shoppers are driving this success, favoring cheaper alternatives to Amazon and Walmart. However, AliExpress still trails Temu, which skyrocketed with a 107% CAGR and continues to dominate discount e-commerce.

๐Ÿ“Š AliExpress gains ground in the U.S.

AliExpress climbed to #6 in the U.S. marketplace rankings in 2024, surpassing Etsy and Wayfair. Its steady expansion is fueled by competitive pricing, aggressive marketing, and improved logistics. However, Temu is catching up fast, breaking into #7 within just two years. While Amazon and Walmart still lead, the rise of Chinese marketplaces in the U.S. is undeniable.

๐Ÿ“‰ Position in Europe

In Europe, AliExpress has gone in the opposite direction. Once #3 in 2019, it slipped to #7 by 2023, losing ground to Zalando, Wildberries, and Ozon. Amazon still dominates, with a 60% larger market share than its top nine competitors combined. With European shoppers favoring localized platforms and faster delivery, AliExpress has struggled to maintain its presence.


Influencer marketing market ๐Ÿ“Š

The global influencer marketing industry will grow from $19.8B in 2024 to $31.2B by 2027, making up 4% of digital ad spend. The USA and Brazil lead in adoption, while nano influencers maintain the highest engagement despite mega influencersโ€™ rising rates.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Market Growth and Brand Shifts

Influencer marketing is booming. In 2024, it stands at $19.8B, projected to hit $31.2B by 2027โ€”a 57.5% increase. This sector is expected to take up 4% of digital ad spend, as brands invest more in influencer-driven campaigns. AI is transforming the space, helping brands track ROI, fight fraud, and optimize ad performance. Sponsored posts, user-generated content, and affiliate marketing remain the top collaboration models, making influencers a key part of digital strategy.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท USA & Brazil Lead in Adoption

The USA and Brazil are leading the influencer marketing charge. In 2024, 23% of posts in the USA are sponsored, followed by 15% in Brazil. Both countries also account for 16% of all global influencers. India follows with 7% sponsored content and 8% of influencers. Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, and France stay below 3%, indicating slower adoption. Brands in top-performing markets are doubling their investment in influencer partnerships to increase engagement and boost sales.

๐Ÿค Mega Influencers Are Catching Up

While nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) still drive the highest engagement, mega-influencers are gaining ground. Engagement rates for mega influencers reaches only 40-70% of nano influencersโ€™ performance on Instagram and TikTok respectively. On TikTok, nano influencers lead with an 11.9% engagement rate, but brands are finding value in mega creators with broader reach and rising interaction rates. Nano influencers remain key for trust and authenticity.

๐Ÿ›’ Mass Platforms

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Amazon directs shoppers to brands' sites for unavailable items. Amazon's new feature redirects users to brands' websites when products are not in stock, enhancing customer experience and selection.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Temu shifts supply chain model amid Trump tariffs. Temu is moving to a "half-custody" logistics model, shifting shipping to merchants as U.S. tariffs disrupt its low-cost strategy, Bloomberg reports.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Shopify Advocates for Open Trade Amid De Minimis Debate. On February 7, 2025, Shopify emphasized the importance of de minimis tax exemptions for small businesses, following President Trump's temporary reinstatement of the provision after initial repeal caused significant disruptions.

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท Temu hires in Korea, plans local logistics system. Chinese e-commerce platform Temu is recruiting Korean staff and developing a local logistics network to strengthen its presence in South Korea, following a strategy similar to AliExpress.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ TikTok introduces subscription service, challenging Amazon. TikTok is testing a subscription feature similar to Amazon's Subscribe & Save, aiming to offer users recurring deliveries and discounts, thereby enhancing inventory management for sellers.

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ AliExpress expands local payments in Africa.. Starting February, AliExpress will support local currencies in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, and Uganda, enhancing its African market presence.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU mandates VAT for online platforms by 2030. On February 12, 2025, the European Parliament approved updates to VAT rules, requiring online platforms to pay VAT by 2030, aiming to eliminate market distortions and combat fraud.

๐Ÿ‘— Fashion, Sports, Beauty, Home

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Amazon opens first beauty store in Milan, Italy. The store offers curated beauty products and over-the-counter medications, featuring brands like Eucerin and La Roche-Posay.

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Mytheresa sales jump 13%, fueled by luxury shoppers. Mytheresa credits โ€œbig spendersโ€ in the U.S. and Europe for its Q4 sales surge. CEO Michael Kliger highlights strong demand in bags and accessories, while China lags.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท La Reboucle boosts kids' second-hand fashion with partners. La Reboucle expands children's second-hand clothing through strategic partnerships, enhancing sustainable fashion options for families.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ Vinted boosts payments by 4.15% with Checkout.com. In 2024, Vinted enhanced transaction success rates by 4.15% through Checkout.com's AI-driven payment solutions, improving user engagement.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ The Iconic adds ex-David Jones exec to advisory team. The Iconic appointed Donna Player as an independent advisor. The Australian fashion veteran brings 30+ years of experience to support its rapid growth.

๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Taobao unveils 25,000 sq ft furniture store in Hong Kong. Opening on February 22, 2025, in Tsim Sha Tsui's China Hong Kong City, the store offers over 10,000 items from 100+ Taobao sellers.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช JD.com renews bid for Ceconomy, owner of MediaMarkt.. On February 5, 2025, Bloomberg reported that JD.com is in talks to acquire Ceconomy AG, aiming to expand into Europe.

๐Ÿ” eGrocery, Delivery, qCommerce

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ JD.com enters food delivery with zero commission offer. On February 11, 2025, JD.com announced its new food delivery service, offering zero commission fees for merchants joining before May 1. This move challenges industry leaders Meituan and Ele.me.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Instacart introduces paid in-store brand tasks for workers. Instacart's new pilot program allows gig workers to earn extra by photographing in-store brand displays, enhancing data collection for CPG companies.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Deliveroo denies CEO Will Shu's departure rumors. On February 11, 2025, Deliveroo refuted media claims about CEO Will Shu's potential exit, affirming his commitment to the company's future.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Wolt launches Valentineโ€™s Day gift delivery feature. Wolt now allows users to send gifts with a personal message. Valentineโ€™s Day orders for flowers and gifts surged globally, with Germany leading in pre-orders.

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Lanch raises $27M to scale influencer-led fast food. Germanyโ€™s Lanch secured $27M in Series A funding to expand. Using social media and influencers, itโ€™s scaling ghost kitchens and retail food brands.

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ช Bolt unveils new visual identity with 3D illustrations. Bolt's 2025 rebranding introduces 3D illustrations, updated color palette, and a new font to enhance brand recognition and accessibility.

โค๏ธ Your Opinion matters!

Share your thoughts on todayโ€™s email with just 1 click in the pollโ€”itโ€™s quick and helps us improve.

What do you think of this issue?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

For questions or more feedback, reply to this email.

Best,
MarketMaze team

Reply

or to participate.