Swedish e-retailers are selling more and more to customers abroad. During the second quarter, 16 percent more packages were shipped by Swedish e-retailers to individuals in other countries than during the same period last year. This is according to the Swedish Transport Association Package Index, which is now measuring e-commerce export flows for the first time.
During the second quarter of this year, 70 million packages were shipped to Swedish consumers. At the same time, 10.6 million packages were shipped from Swedish e-retailers to private individuals abroad. That’s about one million more than during the first three months of the year and a 16 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
– In the e-commerce sector, there has long been talk of the sharp increase in so-called ”packages from China” to Sweden, but we are now also seeing an increase in the number of Swedish packages sent abroad. The fact that Swedish e-retailers are expanding beyond the domestic market is an important and positive aspect of cross-border e-commerce,” says Tina Thorsell, Director of Public Policy at Transportföretagen.
One in three packages comes from abroad
The volume of shipments from foreign e-retailers also remains high. In the second quarter, 32 percent of the packages sent to Swedish consumers originated abroad, which is roughly the same percentage as in the first quarter of the year.
– Growing parcel flows across Sweden’s borders demonstrate how closely the retail and transportation sectors are linked. Behind the internationalization of e-commerce are transportation and logistics companies that ensure goods reach the customer all the way to their doorstep. As Swedish e-commerce retailers expand into new markets, the need for efficient, reliable, and competitive transportation also increases. This is essential for Swedish companies to continue growing internationally, says Tina Thorsell.
Continued Increase in Second-Hand Packages
The number of secondhand packages sent between individuals via online platforms continues to rise. In the second quarter, just over 8 million such packages were shipped, a 36 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025. So far this year, the number of secondhand packages has increased by 30 percent compared with 2025.
Returns Are Rising Despite a Long-Term Decline
E-commerce generated more returns during the spring. Just over 5.1 million packages were returned during the second quarter, and the return rate rose from 6.4 percent in the first quarter of the year to 7.3 percent in the second. However, the rate is roughly the same as in the corresponding quarter last year. Viewed over several years, the trend is downward. One possible explanation is that a larger share of e-commerce comes from abroad, where the threshold for returning an item is often higher. At the same time, categories with relatively few returns—such as pharmacy products—are growing.
Transportföretagen is the trade and employer association for the transportation industry and represents 9,200 member companies with approximately 200,000 employees.
