Market Trends of North Macedonia E-commerce Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the North Macedonia E-commerce Market according to our research experts:
Wide Availability of Internet will Boost the Demand for E-commerce
- Internet and wi-fi are widely available in restaurants, cafes, hotels, and hostels, although free wi-fi is not always advertised in food and drink venues. Some hotels have computers in common areas. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the 'Macedonian Connects' project, which helped to make North Macedonia the first all-broadband wireless country in the world.
- Even in remote mountain towns where residents do not have phones, a wireless connection is available to a significant percentage of the population. According to the CIA World Factbook, North Macedonia is ranked 92nd in terms of internet hosts and 79th in terms of fixed internet broadband subscriptions.
- In 2020, 71% of internet users in North Macedonia utilized the internet at least once a day, according to a European survey on information and communication technologies by Eurostat. However, North Macedonia had a much lower number of daily internet users than other European countries.
- The percentage of individuals in North Macedonia who use the internet daily was lower than the EU-27 average of 80% in 2020. The overall share of households in North Macedonia with internet access was similar to that in neighboring countries like Greece and Bulgaria. However, even after low internet usage, there is a high availability of wi-fi and internet in the country that will enable the demand for E-commerce.
- There are also no official limits on internet use, but new concerns include privacy, fake news, and hate speech. By market share, Google was the most popular search engine in the country, followed by Yahoo and Bing. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, Samsung Internet, and Internet Explorer were popular browsers. Furthermore, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded the 'Macedonian Connects' project, which enabled North Macedonia to become the world's first all-broadband wireless country.
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Fashion and Apparel sector is anticipated to drive the E-commerce growth in the country
- According to Invest North Macedonia, the textile industry is the country's second-largest industrial sector after metallurgy. It is one of the most developed and varied industries in industrial production, employment, and export revenues. The textile and garment industry accounts for 17% of the overall industrial GDP and 14% of total country exports. This element will also increase demand for the Textile sector in the E-commerce business.
- Another benefit is that locals have a positive reputation in the global market. Companies from the country have long been recognized for their quality and professionalism in the EU and US markets. The industry is also known for its high flexibility and willingness to adapt to the needs of international markets. Such considerations will provide local firms an advantage in selling their products online within the EU.
- Proximity to EU markets and well-established transport and logistics networks. North Macedonia is home to most of the major European transportation companies' privately owned trucks and warehouses.
- Furthermore, Macedonian e-shoppers prefer to buy apparel and sports equipment online, according to the Macedonian E-Commerce Association. In 2020, approximately 40.1% of consumers made online purchases, with the majority of consumers purchasing clothing and other garments.
