China’s cross-border e-commerce has gone through three stages of development.
The first stage (germination period, 1997-2007): Cross-border e-commerce started in China at the end of the 20th century. The earliest B2B platform that helped small and medium-sized enterprises export was Alibaba International Station, Made in China Network, etc. Representative companies include Alibaba International Station and Made in China Network. From 1997 to 1999, China’s foreign trade B2B e-commerce websites such as China Chemical Network, Made in China Network, Alibaba International Station, etc. were established successively. These cross-border e-commerce platforms provide basic services such as commodity information display and transaction cooperation for small and medium-sized enterprises. Among them, Alibaba International Station is currently the world’s largest cross-border B2B platform, and has gradually developed from an online B2B information service platform to a B2B cross-border online transaction platform.
The second stage (development period, 2008-2013): With the increase in the penetration rate of Internet users worldwide and the improvement of cross-border payment, logistics and other service levels, around 2008, China’s cross-border e-commerce retail export business (B2C/C2C) for overseas individual consumers flourished. DX (2006), LightInTheBox (2007), and AliExpress (2009) are all cross-border e-commerce B2C websites that have grown up in line with this trend. The development of cross-border e-commerce retail has led to tremendous changes in international trade entities and trade methods, and a large number of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises and online merchants have begun to directly participate in international trade.
The third stage (explosive period, 2014 to present): In 2014, China standardized the supervision of cross-border e-commerce retail imports. A large number of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises and online merchants began to carry out in-depth innovation, which promoted the rapid development of China’s cross-border e-commerce retail imports. A large number of cross-border e-commerce retail import platforms and enterprises were born, including Tmall Global, NetEase Kaola, Jumei Youpin, Yangmatou, Xiaohongshu, etc. The entire industry ushered in explosive growth in 2015. If the cross-border e-commerce that began at the end of the 20th century only changed the marketing methods of traditional international trade, then with the rapid development and universal installation of global Internet infrastructure, the current cross-border e-commerce has had a revolutionary and substantial impact on the operation mode of international trade and the links of the trade chain. Small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals are deeply involved in all aspects of international trade. Small and medium-sized enterprises directly interact and trade with global consumers. The beneficiaries of the dividend of globalization are more extensive, and the benefits to all parties are more balanced and inclusive.