Czech Republic, e-commerce and logistics
The e-commerce market in the Czech Republic is growing fast.
So is this a good destination for e-trade right now? And how can you ensure the best, cheapest and quickest parcel deliveries from the UK? Read on to find out...
Why Czech Republic?
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia is home to over 10 million people. Located in Central Europe, it is a landlocked country, bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. The capital and largest city is Prague.
Czech e-commerce has experienced significant growth since 2007, when revenues stood at just 21 billion koruna. Despite two consecutive years of decline, the sector rebounded in 2024, with revenues rising to 194 billion Czech koruna. As a result, online purchases were made by 76.5 percent of internet users in the country in the same year. 1
- 810 million
- Revenue of the food e-commerce market in Czechia in 2024
- 1.84 billion
- Revenue of the fashion e-commerce in Czechia in 2024
- Electrical
- Most purchased online household goods in 2024
The e-commerce landscape
The country’s e-commerce landscape is undergoing continuous transformation. Increasing numbers of companies are expanding into online sales, reaching a 20.2% share in 2024. 2
While the percentage of companies engaging in e- commerce has remained relatively stable, the financial outcomes have been mixed. Nearly half of e-commerce enterprises in Czechia reported revenues in 2024 similar to those in 2023, with 28.5% experiencing growth and 23.6% facing declines. On the whole, the majority of online businesses anticipate stable revenues, with the number of users expected to grow significantly and reach 7.5 million by 2029. 3
Opportunities
Interest in cross-border e-commerce is growing among Czech customers. The reasons for purchasing via foreign online stores are largely cited as lower prices and access to products not available at home. The international markets from which Czechs like to shop include Germany and China, followed by other EU countries and the United States.
Customer support and site trustworthiness are important for Czech customers. For cross-border e-commerce, the most sought-after items include digital products and electronics, followed by clothes, jewellery, watches and cosmetics.
Number of people shopping online in the Czech Republic.
Logistics
While the e-commerce delivery system in Prague and central Czechia is well serviced, it remains immature in other regions, according to Savills. However, the rise of e- commerce is pulling supply chains closer to consumers, which is producing regional distribution centres (as opposed to centralised distribution models) that facilitate online retailers to keep inventory closer to consumers to meet the shorter delivery times they demand. A J.P.Morgan report found that three out of four Czech customers expect same-day delivery.
Further logistics growth is planned in Prague’s brownfield areas as e-commerce seeks to use all available space located closest to consumers. These facilities will be an extension of established supply chains, not only taking goods to retail centres and storefronts, but also enabling delivery all the way to where consumers live and work.
You can familiarise yourself with the weights and prices of sending a package to Czech Republic using our helpful shipping rates chart .
Keep in mind
As of July 2021, new VAT regulations, which apply to online shopping outside the EU, came into force. The new regulations will make online shopping in China more expensive and therefore less profitable, since VAT will also apply to cross-border online shopping with a declared value of up to 10 euros.
What our experts say
“Bearing in mind geopolitical events, the Czech Republic has a growing interest in cross-border purchasing, making it an international e-commerce destination worth exploring.”
Simon Perkins, Commercial Director, SAMOS.
To find out more about how SAMOS can help you achieve fast and cost effective deliveries to Czech Republic get in touch today