The value of electronic commerce in Romania represents 3.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year, equivalent to 11.7 billion euro, according to a report by the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO), which quotes estimates from the European E-commerce 2024 report.

According to an ARMO press release, Romania ranks third in Central and Eastern Europe, after Poland and the Czech Republic.

"The development of electronic commerce reflects the adaptability of businesses and the growing interest of consumers in digital solutions. Romania's accession to the Schengen Area in 2025 will create new opportunities, accelerating cross-border deliveries and access to European markets," said ARMO Executive Director Cristian Pelivan, as quoted in the press release.

Thus, the e-commerce sector has created new employment opportunities and supports the growth of related sectors. Through the ecosystem developed in recent years, e-commerce is responsible for more than a third of courier traffic and has a positive impact on services such as logistics, fulfillment, and online marketing.

"Electronic commerce in Romania continues to develop rapidly, strengthening its essential role in the economy and in the daily life of consumers," said ARMO.

In this regard, data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) show that 72.9% of internet users in Romania made online purchases in 2024. The official statistics, published on December 11, 2024, reveal that 88.6% of Romanian households are connected, an increase of 2.9 percentage points compared to the previous year.

A significant increase was recorded in rural areas, where the percentage of online buyers rose to 67.3% (+5.9% compared to 2023), narrowing the gap with urban areas, where 77.1% of internet users placed at least one online order (+3.4%).

The most popular categories of products and services purchased online in 2024 are: Clothing, footwear, and accessories (78.6%), Restaurant deliveries and catering (36.4%), Cosmetics and personal care products (34.5%), Sports equipment (20.8%), Household appliances and electronics (15.8%), and Medicines and dietary supplements (16.7%).

Founded in 2010, the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO) represents online stores in Romania and advocates for the interests of its members. ARMO developed the Code of Good Practices for Online Stores and a certification programme for online stores in Romania, in line with this Code of Good Practices.

The association is a member of Ecommerce Europe, the only voice of the European e-commerce sector, representing over 150,000 companies through national associations. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Badea, editor: Oana Tilica; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)