ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Business trends

Alibaba, online retailers eye Southeast Asian growth on ‘Singles Day’

12.12 and Black Friday give 11.11 a run for its money in Indonesia, Vietnam

Shopee is touting savings of up to 90% and throwing in free shipping for Singles Day in 2019.   © Dylan Loh, Nikkei Singapore Bureau

SINGAPORE – Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's Singles Day, the annual celebration of unbridled consumerism on Nov. 11, has a firm grip on Malaysia and Singapore, but less so in neighboring Indonesia and Vietnam, data released by online advertising solutions provider Criteo shows.

The event – held on 11.11 because the date resembles single individuals when expressed in numerals –generated a whopping 418% spike in online retail sales for Malaysia last year, and a comparable 368% increase for Singapore. Other tentpole shopping festivals have not managed to empty wallets at the same pace in the two countries, according to Criteo.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more