Russian E-Commerce Sees Record Growth in First Half of 2025

Online retail sales surged 36% year-over-year, with experts predicting continued expansion and a reshaping of traditional brick-and-mortar trade.

In the first half of 2025, Russia’s online retail market reached 5.3 trillion rubles ($59 billion), a 36% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Association of Internet Trade Companies. Analysts at the National Rating Agency project that the sector’s turnover could exceed 15 trillion rubles by year’s end.

The boom is fueled by digital transformation, personalized offers, and reduced costs for sellers on rent and staffing. Fierce competition between marketplaces and online stores is also pushing prices down.

The top five product categories purchased online by Russians are groceries (20% of all purchases), home goods and furniture (15.7%), clothing and footwear (15.3%), electronics (12%), and auto parts (about 6%). Analysts expect this growth trend to continue, with e-commerce’s share of total retail projected to reach 30–35% in the coming years.