Global online retail is growing 7.2% year-over-year. Here's how to capture your share of the expanding market.
$6.88 trillion Global ecommerce sales in 2026 (7.2% growth from 2025)
The global ecommerce market is not slowing down. In 2026, online retail sales hit $6.88 trillion, up 7.2% from the previous year, according to Shopify's Global Ecommerce Sales Growth Report. By 2028, that figure will climb to $7.89 trillion. For business owners, this means one thing: customer behavior is shifting online, and the market reward for being there is enormous.
A 7.2% year-over-year increase is steady, predictable growth. It's not explosive, but it's reliable. More importantly, it's global. Whether you manufacture products, run a construction supply business, sell specialty goods, or operate a retail location, online shoppers in your industry are spending more money. The 2025-to-2026 jump from $6.42 trillion to $6.88 trillion represents nearly half a trillion dollars in additional online commerce. That's new revenue up for grabs.
The ecommerce opportunity isn't theoretical. It's measured in dollars. A manufacturer selling B2B or a retailer with only foot traffic is competing in a shrinking pool. A contractor supply shop without online ordering is losing orders to competitors who offer it. The market is moving online. Your customers expect to browse, compare, and buy digitally, often at night or on weekends when your physical location is closed.
Start by auditing where you stand. Do you have an ecommerce presence? If yes, is it easy to navigate, fast to load, and mobile-friendly? Does it integrate with your inventory system so you're not overselling? Can customers check out without friction? If you answer no to any of those, you have a problem that costs revenue every day.
If you don't have an ecommerce operation, now is the time to launch one. The market is large, growing steadily, and customer expectations are set. You don't need to be perfect on day one, but you need to be there.
Global ecommerce sales are forecast to reach $6.88 trillion in 2026, a 7.2% increase from the previous year, growing from $6.42 trillion in 2025 to $7.89 trillion by 2028.Shopify Global Ecommerce Sales Growth Report, January 2026
Global ecommerce sales grew 7.2% from 2025 to 2026 and are forecast to continue expanding to $7.89 trillion by 2028, according to Shopify's Global Ecommerce Sales Growth Report. That's consistent, healthy growth across the market.
Global ecommerce sales reached $6.88 trillion in 2026, up from $6.42 trillion in 2025. For context, this market is forecast to grow to $7.89 trillion by 2028.
Yes. With ecommerce growing 7.2% annually and the market expanding to nearly $8 trillion by 2028, customers expect to buy online. Businesses without an ecommerce presence or a strong online operation are losing sales to competitors who offer it.
Growing ecommerce sales mean higher customer demand and more inventory movement potential if you're set up to sell online. It's worth revisiting your inventory allocation and pricing strategy to ensure you're competitive and can fulfill orders profitably across all channels.