cross-border e-commerce maintained rapid growth in China

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed online retail sales in rural areas reached 777.13 billion yuan in the first half of this year, up 21 percent year-on-year. Agricultural products' online retail sales amounted to 187.36 billion yuan in China in the first half, with a year-on-year increase of 25.3 percent.

According to the ministry, cross-border e-commerce maintained rapid growth in China. In the first half, major cross-border e-commerce platforms witnessed over 20 percent year-on-year increase in sales of online retail imported goods. The top three countries from which China imported goods are Japan, the United States and South Korea. And some of the country's top imported goods are cosmetics, cereals, oils and foodstuffs, and daily necessities.

Eastern China topped all other areas in online retail sales, followed by the central, western and northeastern regions, according to the ministry. Large cities have seen a significant jump in retail sales of fresh food, cosmetics and pet supplies. The retail sales of clothing, auto supplies and household appliances increased rapidly in small- and medium-sized cities and rural areas.

"In recent years, consumers in China have been seeing rising incomes, catapulting millions into the new middle-income group," said Monica Peart, senior forecasting director at research firm eMarketer.