Eurostat: 17% of companies in Cyprus sell online, below the EU average

The steady rise in e-shopping in many countries has been further exacerbated by the pandemic and restrictions on traffic.

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In 2020, 22% of businesses in the EU made online sales, while 19% of businesses in the EU said e-commerce accounted for at least 1% of their total sales, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. .

The percentage of companies whose at least 1% of total sales were made through electronic transactions increased by 1 percentage point compared to 2019 (when it was at 18%) and by 6 percentage points compared to 2010 (when it was at 13% ).

As noted, steady growth in e-shopping in many countries has been exacerbated by the pandemic and traffic constraints for both consumers and businesses.

The largest percentage of businesses selling online (defined as companies whose at least 1% of sales were made via the Internet) was recorded in Denmark where it was at 38%, the same percentage as in 2019.

In second place were Iceland and Sweden with 34% each (increase of 1 and 3 percentage points respectively compared to 2019).

In Cyprus the percentage of companies with electronic sales (at least 1% of the total) was at 17%, slightly below the EU average. Compared to 2019, when the percentage was at 15%, there was an increase of two percentage points.

Belgium and Finland recorded the largest increase in online sales in 2020, by 5 percentage points to 31% and 24% respectively.

The largest decrease was recorded in Romania (decrease of 6 percentage points to 12%), followed by the Czech Republic (decrease of 5 percentage points to 25%) and Portugal (decrease of 4 percentage points to 16%).

According to other data, as in previous years, companies sold more frequently to customers within their own country (22% of businesses), while sales were less frequent in other EU countries (9%) and in the rest of the world. (5%).

Also in 2020, 19% of businesses in the EU made sales through websites and applications to either private customers (15%) or businesses and governments (12%), while 6% were EDI-type sales mainly to business customers.

Businesses made these sales through the website or their application (17% of businesses) or through an online platform (8%).