12 World’s Largest E-commerce Companies in 2021- According to data from the company’s annual report in 2021, there are 12 World’s Biggest E-commerce Companies in 2021. They are the leader in the commerce market with uniqueness of its business with extensive market across the nations.
E-commerce itself is a concept and a way of trading that buying or selling products through electronically/online mechanism. E-commerce activities can be conducted via a computer, tablet, or smartphone with relied on the internet access. The effectiveness and efficiency of trading using e-commerce methods will be much preferable than conventional trading. In the early 2000s, this e-commerce trade began to grow rapidly along with the advancement of information technology and network connectivity between countries or regions around the world.
The development of e-commerce companies around the world certainly has its own impact on business competition in this sector. Many companies provide unique marketplaces that attract customers to trade via online. Here are the 12 World’s Biggest E-commerce Companies in 2021. This data came from from the Annual Reports of each company in 2021.
Table Rank of 12 World’s Largest E-commerce Companies Based on Assets
| Rank | Companies | Assets | Assets | Liabilities | Liabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Currency | in US Dollar | Origin Currency | in US Dollar | ||
| 1 | Amazon | 420 Billion US Dollar | 420 Billion US Dollar | 282 Billion US Dollar | 282 Billion US Dollar |
| 2 | Alibaba | 257 Billion US Dollar | 257 Billion US Dollar | 92 Billion US Dollar | 92 Billion US Dollar |
| 3 | Rakuten | 16.8 Trillion Yen | 117 Billion US Dollar | 15.7 Trillion Yen | 109 Billion US Dollar |
| 4 | JD | 77.9 Billion US Dollar | 77.9 Billion US Dollar | 39.1 Billion US Dollar | 39.1 Billion US Dollar |
| 5 | Pinduoduo | 28.4 Billion US Dollar | 28.4 Billion US Dollar | 16.6 Billion US Dollar | 16.6 Billion US Dollar |
| 6 | Ebay | 26.6 Billion US Dollar | 26.6 Billion US Dollar | 16.8 Billion US Dollar | 16.8 Billion US Dollar |
| 7 | Otto Group | 15.6 Billion Euro | 15.6 Billion US Dollar | 13.6 Billion Euro | 13.6 Billion US Dollar |
| 8 | Shopify | 13.3 Billion US Dollar | 13.3 Billion US Dollar | 2.2 Billion US Dollar | 2.2 Billion US Dollar |
| 9 | Coupang | 8.64 Billion US Dollar | 8.64 Billion US Dollar | 6.46 Billion US Dollar | 6.46 Billion US Dollar |
| 10 | Zalando | 6.8 Billion Euro | 6.8 Billion US Dollar | 4.6 Billion Euro | 4.6 Billion US Dollar |
| 11 | WayFair | 4.5 Billion US Dollar | 4.5 Billion US Dollar | 6.1 Billion US Dollar | 6.1 Billion US Dollar |
| 12 | Suning | 170 Billion Yuan | 1.19 Billion US Dollar | 138 Billion Yuan | 966 Million US Dollar |
| Source : Annual Report, 2021 | |||||
| Currency Rate : | 1 Euro = 1 US Dollar | ||||
| 1 Yen = 0.007 US Dollar | |||||
| 1 Yuan (RMB) = 0.15 US Dollar | |||||
The rank above based on assets of companies. These variables are obtained from Balance sheet of Annual Report in 2021. The assets describe the physical and non-physical properties that company has owned. Meanwhile, the liabilities describe the debt or the obligation that company must be paid off in the future.
Table Rank of 12 World’s Largest E-commerce Companies Based on Net Income
| Rank | Companies | Revenue | Revenue | Net Income | Net Income / Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Currency | in US Dollar | Origin Currency | in US Dollar | ||
| 1 | Amazon | 469 Billion US Dollar | 469 Billion US Dollar | 33.3 Billion US Dollar | 33.3 Billion US Dollar |
| 2 | Alibaba | 109 Billion US Dollar | 109 Billion US Dollar | 21.8 Billion US Dollar | 21.8 Billion US Dollar |
| 3 | Ebay | 10.4 Billion US Dollar | 10.4 Billion US Dollar | 13.6 Billion US Dollar | 13.6 Billion US Dollar |
| 4 | Shopify | 4.6 Billion US Dollar | 4.6 Billion US Dollar | 2.9 Billion US Dollar | 2.9 Billion US Dollar |
| 5 | Pinduoduo | 14.7 Billion US Dollar | 14.7 Billion US Dollar | 1.2 Billion US Dollar | 1.2 Billion US Dollar |
| 6 | Zalando | 10.3 Billion Euro | 10.3 Billion US Dollar | 234 million Euro | 234 million US Dollar |
| 7 | Otto Group | 1.3 Billion Euro | 1.3 Billion US Dollar | 152 million Euro | 152 million US Dollar |
| 8 | WayFair | 13.7 Billion US Dollar | 13.7 Billion US Dollar | (-130 million US Dollar) | (-130 million US Dollar) |
| 9 | Suning | 23.3 Billion Yuan | 163 Million US Dollar | (-35.6 Billion Yuan) | (-249 Million US Dollar) |
| 10 | JD | 149 Billion US Dollar | 149 Billion US Dollar | (-701 Million US Dollar) | (-701 Million US Dollar) |
| 11 | Rakuten | 1.68 Trillion Yen | 11 Billion US Dollar | (-138 Billion Yen ) | (-966 Million US Dollar) |
| 12 | Coupang | 18.4 Billion US Dollar | 18.4 Billion US Dollar | (-1.5 Billion US Dollar) | (-1.5 Billion US Dollar) |
| Source : Annual Report, 2021 | |||||
| Currency Rate | 1 Euro = 1 US Dollar | ||||
| 1 Yen = 0.007 US Dollar | |||||
| 1 Yuan (RMB) = 0.15 US Dollar | |||||
According to the business performance in 2021, the company showed different performance amid the global pandemic of Covid-19. Some of the E-commerce companies can gain the net income but some of them suffered losses. This data was obtained from Income statement of Annual Report in 2021. Income statement describes the business performance of companies in specific time.
Brief Description of the 12 World’s Largest E-commerce Companies in 2021
1. Amazon
Amazon is one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies in 2021. Historically, this company was founded on July 5, 1994, in Bellevue, Washington, United States. To date, this company has grown to become one of the world’s biggest e-commerce companies with assets of 420 billion US dollars and liabilities around 282 billion US Dollars. The key figure of this company, of course, is Jeff Bezos, who is a former graduate of Princeton University, United States. To date, Amazon has employed about 647,000 employees spread across the world. In 2020, based on the 2021 annual report, the company recorded a positive performance by gaining revenue around 469 billion US Dollar and profit/ net income of 33.3 billion US Dollars.
2.Alibaba
Alibaba is a Chinese multinational company that specializes in e-commerce and technology. Until now, Alibaba is one of the biggest e-commerce companies in the world. The company owns and operates diverse businesses around the world in various sectors. Based on its history, Jack Ma and Peng Lei found Alibaba in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China on April 4, 1999.
Along with the company’s business development, until now the company has employed around 66 thousand employees worldwide and has operations in more than 200 countries in the world. Financially, the company has assets around 257 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 92 billion US Dollars. Furthermore In 2021, this company can gain the revenue around 109 billion US Dollar with Net Income around 21.8 billion US Dollar.
3.Rakuten
Rakuten Group Kabushiki-gaisha or known as Rakuten is a leading e-commerce company from Japan headquartered in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. The founder of this e-commerce company is Hiroshi Mikitani. Until now, this company has employed about 18 thousand people. In 2020, the company, which was founded on February 7, 1997, has assets of 16.8 trillion Yen / 117 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 15.7 trillion Yen/ 109 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company can gain the revenue 1.68 trillion Yen / 11 billion US Dollar but suffered Net Loss around -138 Billion Yen/ -966 Million US Dollar.
4.JD
JD known as “Jingdong” is a leading e-commerce company headquartered in Beijing, China. Based on history. This company was formerly called 360buy. The company was founded by Liu Qiangdong in 1998. From time to time, the company has become one of the global biggest e-commerce companies from China besides Alibaba. To Date, the company has more than 1000 storage warehouses spread across the world with annual active customers who transact through JD.com reaching 500 million.
Until now, Financially, Based on Annual Report 2021, this company has assets of 77.9 billion US dollars with liabilities around 39.1 billion US Dollars. Furthermore, the performance in 2021, based on the company’s annual report in 2021, the company can gain revenue around 149 billion US Dollar but suffered Net Loss around -701 Million US Dollar.
5.Pinduoduo
Pinduoduo is an e-commerce company from China that started the business since 2015. Operationally, the company has primary office in Shanghai China with a total employee of about 5 thousand people. In 2021, based on the company’s annual report in 2021, this company has assets of 28.4 billion US dollars with liabilities 16.6 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company gain the revenue around 14.7 billion US Dollar with reaping net Income around 1.2 billion US Dollar.
6.eBay
eBay is one of the leading e-commerce companies from the United States. Founded on September 3, 1995, by Pierre Omidya, the company that was formerly known as AuctionWeb. Operationally, this company has primary office in San Jose, California, United States. Along with business development from time to time, this company has employed about 13 thousand employees spread all over the world. In 2021, based on the 2021 annual report, the assets have assets around 26.6 billion US Dollar with Liabilities around 16.8 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company gain revenue around 10.4 billion US Dollar with net Income 13.6 billion US Dollar.
7.Otto Group
Otto GmbH & Co KG or commonly known as Otto Group is e-commerce company from Germany. Operationally, this company has primary office in Hamburg, Germany. Historically, this company was founded by Werner Otto in 1949. Financially, in 2021, the company has assets around 15.6 billion Euro / 15.6 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 13.6 billion Euro/ 13.6 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company can gain revenue around 1.3 billion Euro/ 1.3 billion US Dollar with net income around 152 million Euro/ 152 million US Dollar.
8.Shopify
Shopify is a Canadian based e-commerce company that has primary office in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake. To date, shopify has employed approximately 7000 employees spread across Canada.
In 2021, based on the 2021 annual report, the assets owned by this company reached 13.3 billion US dollars with liabilities around 2.2 billion US Dollar. In 2021, the company’s performance showed positive results by achieving revenue around 4.6 billion US Dollars with Net Income around 2.9 billion US Dollar.
9.Coupang
Coupang is one of the biggest e-commerce companies from South Korea. The company has primary office in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Founded on July 1, 2008, this company has grown rapidly to become a leading e-commerce company in South Korea and the world with around 37 thousand employees. In 2021, the company’s assets have assets 8.64 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 6.46 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company can gain the revenue around 18.4 billion US Dollar but suffered Net Loss around -1.5 Billion US Dollar.
10.Zalando
Zalando is an e-commerce company from Germany that has primary office in Berlin, Germany. Historically, this company was founded in October 2008 by Rocket Internet, Robert Gentz, and David Schneider. In business aspects, the company’s operations are spread across several countries, especially the European Union, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belga, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic. and Great Britain. In 2021, based on the company’s financial statements, the assets owned by this company reached 6.8 billion Euro/ 6.8 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 4.6 billion Euro/ 4.6 billion US Dollar. Based on the business performance in 2021, the company gained the revenue around 10.3 billion Euro/ 10.3 billion US Dollar with reaping net Income around 234 million Euro/ 234 million US Dollar.
11. WayFair
American e-commerce company that has primary office in Boston, Massachusetts. Historically this company was founded in 2002 by Niraj Shah and Steve Conine. Based on its business, this company has focused on selling furniture and home goods. Based on the balance sheet of the company, the company has assets around 4.5 billion US Dollar with Liabilities around 6.1 billion US Dollar. In terms of the business performance in 2021, the company gain revenue around 13.7 billion US Dollar but suffered net Loss around -130 million US Dollar.
12. Suning
Suning is a Chinese e-commerce company headquartered in Nanjing, China. Based on its history, the company was founded by Zhang Jindong in 1990 and has employed 300 thousand employees. In 2021, this e-commerce company from China has assets 170 billion Yuan / 1.19 billion US Dollar with liabilities around 138 billion Yuan/ 966 million US Dollar. Furthermore, in 2021, the company’s performance can gain revenue around 23.3 billion Yuan/ 163 million US Dollar but suffered net loss -35.6 Billion Yuan/ -249 Million US Dollar.
Bibliography of 12 World’s Largest E-commerce Companies in 2021
Amazon. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://ir.aboutamazon.com/annual-reports-proxies-and-shareholder-letters/default.aspx on September 22nd, 2022.
Alibaba. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://www.alibabagroup.com/en-US/ir-financial-reports-financial-results on September 22nd, 2022.
Rakuten. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://global.rakuten.com/corp/investors/documents/annual.html on September 22nd, 2022.
JD. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://ir.jd.com/annual-reports on September 22nd, 2022.
Pinduoduo. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://investor.pinduoduo.com/financial-information/annual-reports on September 22nd, 2022.
Ebay. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://investors.ebayinc.com/financial-information/annual-reports/default.aspx on September 22nd, 2022.
Otto Group. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://www.ottogroup.com/en/medien/downloads/ on September 22nd, 2022.
Shopify. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://investors.shopify.com/financial-reports/default.aspx on September 22nd, 2022.
Coupang. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://ir.aboutcoupang.com/English/financials/annual-reports/default.aspx on September 22nd, 2022.
Zalando. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://corporate.zalando.com/en/investor-relations/annual-report-2021 on September 22nd, 2022.
WayFair. 2022. Annual Report 2021. Accessed via https://investor.wayfair.com/reporting/annual-reports-and-proxies/default.aspx on September 22nd, 2022.
WSJ. 2022. Suning.com Co. Ltd. A. Accessed via https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/CN/002024/financials on September 22th, 2022.