"RCEP and ASEAN Cross-border E-commerce Development Opportunities Research Report" was officially released at the CIIE: Cross-border SMEs accelerate digital transformation

Recently , the "RCEP and ASEAN Countries Cross-border E-commerce Development Opportunities Research Report" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report"), jointly researched by the International Trade Center (ITC), Zhejiang University International Business School, and Alibaba Research Institute , was officially released at the 5th China International Import Expo. The report shows that cross-border small and medium-sized enterprises in RCEP and ASEAN countries are leveraging cross-border e-commerce platforms to vigorously expand the global market, and digitalization is expected to accelerate the release of dividends.

The RCEP region includes 15 member countries with a total population of 2.27 billion. It is currently the most active and fastest growing market for cross-border e-commerce in the world. In 2020, the total scale of cross-border e-commerce in the region reached US$285 billion, an average annual growth rate of 34.8% compared with the total volume in 2016 (US$86.2 billion).

Judging from the Alibaba Research Institute's RCEP country cross-border B2B total index ( a comprehensive assessment of the development of cross-border e-commerce in the region from the perspectives of trade scale, corporate development, market diversification, etc. ), it showed a steadily upward development trend during the period 2019-2021, and doubled in three years, with an average annual growth of 34.4%.

2019-2021 R CEP Regional Cross-border E-commerce Development B2B Index

Source : Alibaba International Station

From the perspective of sub-items, the product diversification index of RCEP cross-border e-commerce enterprises grew the fastest, increasing by 3.2 times in three years; the trade scale index increased by 2.9 times in three years; and the market diversification index also increased by 1.8 times in three years. These results show that while the total scale of cross-border e-commerce in the RCEP region is increasing, the product richness and market diversification process of cross-border e-commerce enterprises are also continuously improving and accelerating.

Development of cross-border e-commerce in the R CEP region from 2019 to 2021   ( B2B ) Sub- Index

Source : Alibaba International Station

The study borrowed the ITC general trade data database and found that the concentration of general trade exports in RCEP countries is relatively high, and is more conducive to exports in industries such as energy, materials and industrial manufacturing; while the main export categories of cross-border e-commerce are more inclined to non-essential consumer goods, staple consumer goods and healthcare industries. Online cross-border e-commerce and offline general trade exports can form an effective product structure complementarity .

Compared with energy, materials and industrial manufacturing, non-essential consumer goods, staple consumer goods and healthcare industries have the characteristics of light assets and low entry barriers, which are closer to the main business scope of small and medium-sized enterprises. In other words, the development of cross-border e-commerce has lowered the capital and personnel thresholds for enterprises to participate in cross-border trade, and can help small and medium-sized enterprises complete export trade at a lower cost. Its essence is a concrete manifestation of the inclusiveness and inclusiveness of digital trade.

It is worth noting that a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises in ASEAN countries are actively participating in the cross-border e-commerce market through digital platforms such as Alibaba International Station, enjoying the development opportunities of the global market. This means that digital platforms represented by Alibaba International Station have become a two-way "digital outlet" connecting Chinese merchants and RCEP and ASEAN merchants, which is expected to further amplify the RCEP dividend effect.

The report also summarizes the specific ways in which digital platforms help cross-border e-commerce SMEs in RCEP and ASEAN countries achieve digital transformation : First, digital marketing reduces the marginal cost of promoting new products ; second, based on the data accumulation and data analysis of online sales, SMEs can better understand consumer behavior habits and consumption trends, and then formulate and adjust their business strategies ; third, with the help of the massive knowledge resources of digital platforms, SMEs can learn from the operating experience of their peers.

From the perspective of future development opportunities, building brand value through online platforms , providing comprehensive services to attract more online consumers , continuous innovation through online knowledge sharing , and reducing costs and improving efficiency through digital means will be several important market trends for the high-quality development of RCEP cross-border e-commerce in the future . Taking brand value as an example, small and medium-sized enterprises in ASEAN countries should seize the current market opportunities and continue to build merchant brands with international reputation and market influence. In addition, cross-border e-commerce companies in the region should further explore their own characteristics, combine local characteristics with international needs in hot cross-border e-commerce fields such as agricultural products, sports and entertainment products, and medical and health care products, and develop special products and services.

Alibaba International Station

CIIE

RCEP and ASEAN countries