Analysis of the development status and characteristics of the North American e-commerce market

The North American market covers 23 countries and 13 regions, mainly including the United States, Canada and Mexico. Among them, the United States is the leader in the development of global e-commerce. Its per capita consumption level (DP) exceeds that of Europe, making it the most developed market in the world. As the main export target of cross-border e-commerce, the North American market places special emphasis on the U.S. e-commerce market, especially platforms represented by Amazon. According to statistics, Amazon’s net sales in 2021 exceeded US$469 billion. As of June 30, 2022, Amazon’s number of Prime members in the United States reached 172 million, accounting for 52% of the total U.S. population. Amazon’s market share accounts for 41.4% of total U.S. e-commerce sales, of which third-party sellers contribute 60%.

The North American e-commerce market is mainly concentrated in the United States and Canada. The consumption characteristics of American consumers are remarkable. They tend to focus on the quality of life, save less and tend to overdraft their consumption. Since there are a large number of immigrants in the American population, they bring rich cultural backgrounds, which makes them more receptive to new products. If the product is of high quality and meets consumer needs, they are more likely to remember the brand and make repeat purchases, leading to word-of-mouth spread.

In addition, the United States attaches great importance to the intellectual property protection of trademarks and patents. Therefore, when selecting products, sellers should first ensure that the products they sell have legal patents to avoid selling products that violate the law. The development of education and Internet technology in the United States has created a good environment for cross-border e-commerce. The e-commerce market maintains an annual growth rate of 15%, accounting for one-third of global e-commerce transactions. The import and export volume of goods between China and the United States reached US$598.07 billion in 2015, making China the largest trading partner of the United States.

The U.S. e-commerce market is estimated to reach US$350 billion in sales in 2016, and Amazon’s market share will continue to occupy an important position. According to data, the third-party market transaction volume in the United States has reached 100 billion U.S. dollars. Amazon’s GMV (gross merchandise transactions) is twice that of the second retail platform, and its FBA warehousing and distribution services have enhanced its market position.

At the same time, as the U.S. government increased the tax-free limit for imported goods to US$800 in 2016, this policy not only stimulated consumers’ enthusiasm for cross-border shopping, but also reduced the export costs of Chinese sellers. This move reduces formal customs declaration procedures, optimizes the customs clearance process, and improves the efficiency of international logistics. The combination of policy background and market potential has made Chinese sellers increasingly competitive in the North American market.

Through the above analysis, we can see that the North American market, especially the e-commerce environment in the United States, not only provides consumers with a wealth of choices, but also provides new development opportunities for cross-border e-commerce sellers. When sellers enter the market, they need to comprehensively consider changes in consumer behavior and policies to formulate appropriate market strategies.