PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675193
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675193
Drop shipping is an order fulfillment process where a brand or store doesn't stock the goods it sells. Instead, it purchases items from a third party, such as a wholesaler or manufacturer, and ships the product directly to the buyer. This method streamlines order fulfillment without the need for inventory maintenance.
Drop shipping offers a range of products, with main categories including toys, hobby and DIY, furniture and appliances, electronics and media, food and personal care, and fashion. In the realm of toys, hobby, and DIY, the fulfillment of orders happens without the need to stock the products in a warehouse. Different drop shipping models include business extensions, print on demand, product creation, and product reselling. Organizations engaging in drop shipping vary in size, encompassing both large enterprises and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The drop shipping market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides drop shipping market statistics, including drop shipping industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a drop shipping market share, detailed drop shipping market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the drop shipping industry. This drop shipping market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The drop shipping market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $335.69 billion in 2024 to $442.61 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to e-commerce growth, marketplace expansion, retailer cost reduction, diverse product offerings, market entry ease.
The drop shipping market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1228.59 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rise of niche markets, consumer demand for fast shipping, global market access, scalability and flexibility, sustainability practices. Major trends in the forecast period include collaboration with influencers and social commerce, blockchain integration for supply chain transparency, flexible payment and pricing models, focus on niche and specialty products, subscription box and curated product offerings.
The expansion of the e-commerce industry is expected to drive growth in the drop shipping market. E-commerce, which involves buying and selling goods and services online through devices like phones, computers, laptops, and tablets, has become a prominent retail channel. Drop shipping offers significant advantages to e-commerce, particularly by eliminating the need for inventory storage or physical stock, thus reducing warehouse and labor expenses. The e-commerce industry saw significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic due to movement restrictions and increased reliance on online shopping. For example, in August 2024, according to the United States Census Bureau, a government agency in the U.S., retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2024 reached an estimated $282.3 billion, representing a 5.3% rise compared to the first quarter of 2023. As e-commerce continues to expand, demand for efficient and flexible supply chain solutions like drop shipping is expected to grow, further supporting the drop shipping market's development.
The increase in online shopping is anticipated to drive the growth of the drop shipping market. Online shopping, a form of electronic commerce, enables consumers to buy goods or services directly from a seller over the internet using a web browser or mobile app. The drop shipping business model relies significantly on online shopping, serving as the primary sales channel where customers discover and make purchases. For example, in November 2023, data from Tidio, a Poland-based customer service software company, indicated that 70% of Americans were expected to engage in online shopping. In 2022, the United States had a total of 268 million digital buyers, and this number was projected to reach 285 million by 2025. The surge in online shopping activities reflects a growing trend, and as more consumers turn to online platforms for their shopping needs, the drop shipping market is expected to experience further growth.
Leading companies in the dropshipping market are incorporating mapping functionality to improve inventory management and refine sales strategies. The mapping function is a tool that helps e-commerce and dropshipping vendors efficiently manage and categorize SKUs, organize distribution, and execute marketing tactics such as BOGO and product bundles. For example, in June 2022, DSers, a Hong Kong-based e-commerce solutions provider, introduced a major upgrade to its mapping function to streamline dropshipping product management for sellers. This enhanced functionality includes various mapping methods, such as SKU mapping and upsell mapping, allowing sellers to choose the approach that best suits their business model, brand, and product range. The upgraded tool offers five options: basic mapping, standard mapping, advanced mapping, BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) mapping, and bundle mapping. BOGO mapping enables promotional campaigns like buy-one-get-one-free deals without requiring third-party apps, while bundle mapping allows for the sale of product kits, letting consumers buy multiple items at discounted prices.
Major companies in the drop shipping market are introducing service innovations, such as end-to-end supply chain services, to support third-party sellers. End-to-end supply chain services encompass a fully automated suite of services that streamline the entire supply chain process for third-party sellers. For example, in September 2023, Amazon.com, Inc., a prominent US-based e-commerce company, launched an end-to-end supply chain service designed to assist third-party sellers from the manufacturing facility to the customer's doorstep. This service is planned to leverage Amazon's existing fulfillment network in combination with external contractors. The objective is to simplify the supply chain process, enhance reliability, and expedite product delivery, all at a reduced cost for the sellers. The comprehensive service includes features such as cross-border transportation, customs clearance, inventory storage, automated inventory replenishment, and customer delivery. This innovation aims to offer an efficient and cost-effective solution for sellers engaged in drop shipping.
In July 2024, Fiverr, an online marketplace headquartered in Israel, acquired AutoDS for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to strengthen Fiverr's foothold in the dropshipping market, which is expected to experience substantial growth. AutoDS is a cloud-based dropshipping platform based in the US, designed to assist businesses in managing orders and tracking changes in stock levels and product prices across various sales channels.
Major companies operating in the drop shipping market include Alibaba Group Holding Limited, AliExpress, Shopify Inc., Sprocket Express LLC, Printful Inc., Wholesale Fashion Square LLC, Gooten LLC, Doba Inc., SaleHoo Group Limited, Megagoods lnc., Wholesale2B LLC, Sunshine Ecommerce Technologies LLC, Modalyst lnc., Sunrise Wholesale Merchandise LLC, CJDropshipping.com, Avasam Limited, Spocket lnc., Syncee.io Kft., Worldwide Brands lnc., Dropified LLC, National Dropshippers lnc., BrandsGateway Marketplace AB, Inventory Source LLC, Dropwow Inc., Banggood Technology Co. Ltd., SaleSource Limited, HyperSKU Co.Ltd., Yakkyofy Srl, DropCommerce Inc., Printify lnc., The Dropship Factory Pty. Ltd., Print Aura LLC
North America was the largest region in the drop shipping market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the drop shipping market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the drop shipping market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The drop shipping market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as product reselling, business extensions, product creation, and print on demand. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Drop Shipping Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on drop shipping market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for drop shipping ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The drop shipping market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.