Chinese E-Commerce Giants Expand Global Footprint Amid Domestic Slowdown
Chinese e-commerce platforms now command roughly half of Southeast Asia's online retail activity, with Alibaba, TikTok Shop, Shein, and Temu leading the charge. Their dominance spans Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, while also making inroads in the U.S. and Brazil. This expansion comes as Chinese firms accelerate overseas growth strategies to counter slowing domestic demand and rising U.S.-China trade tensions.
Alibaba's Taobao is globalizing its Singles Day event, targeting 20 regions this year—a direct challenge to Amazon's Black Friday. Last year marked the first English-language promotion of the shopping festival in Malaysia, signaling a strategic pivot toward international audiences. The company's International Digital Commerce Group continues to drive this cross-border push.
