Alibaba.com Records Double-Digit Order Growth in the USA During March Expo
Alibaba.com reported a 27% year-over-year increase in orders from US SME buyers during its March Expo 2025, a flagship virtual sourcing event. The growth was particularly strong in sports products, showing a 30% increase, with pickleball-related products surging by 197%.
The company's research indicates a significant shift towards digital sourcing, with 44% of SMEs planning to change suppliers this year through online B2B marketplaces. Additionally, 59% of surveyed US SMEs reported that digital sourcing has become more important compared to the previous year.
The March Expo leverages technology and AI to connect millions of buyers with suppliers worldwide, facilitating product discovery and new partnerships while offering promotional deals.
Alibaba.com ha riportato un aumento del 27% negli ordini da parte di acquirenti SME statunitensi durante il suo March Expo 2025, un evento di sourcing virtuale di punta. La crescita è stata particolarmente forte nei prodotti sportivi, con un aumento del 30%, mentre i prodotti legati al pickleball hanno registrato un'impennata del 197%.
La ricerca dell'azienda indica un significativo spostamento verso il sourcing digitale, con il 44% delle PMI che pianificano di cambiare fornitori quest'anno tramite marketplace B2B online. Inoltre, il 59% delle PMI statunitensi intervistate ha riferito che il sourcing digitale è diventato più importante rispetto all'anno precedente.
Il March Expo sfrutta la tecnologia e l'IA per connettere milioni di acquirenti con fornitori in tutto il mondo, facilitando la scoperta di prodotti e nuove partnership, offrendo al contempo offerte promozionali.
Alibaba.com informó un aumento del 27% en los pedidos de compradores SME en EE. UU. durante su March Expo 2025, un evento de abastecimiento virtual insignia. El crecimiento fue particularmente fuerte en productos deportivos, mostrando un aumento del 30%, con productos relacionados con el pickleball aumentando en un 197%.
La investigación de la compañía indica un cambio significativo hacia el abastecimiento digital, con el 44% de las pymes planeando cambiar de proveedores este año a través de mercados B2B en línea. Además, el 59% de las pymes estadounidenses encuestadas informó que el abastecimiento digital se ha vuelto más importante en comparación con el año anterior.
El March Expo aprovecha la tecnología y la IA para conectar a millones de compradores con proveedores en todo el mundo, facilitando el descubrimiento de productos y nuevas asociaciones, mientras ofrece ofertas promocionales.
Alibaba.com은 2025년 3월 엑스포에서 미국 중소기업(SME) 구매자로부터의 주문이 27% 증가했다고 보고했습니다. 이 가상 소싱 이벤트는 특히 스포츠 제품에서 강력한 성장을 보였으며, 30% 증가했습니다. 피클볼 관련 제품은 197%의 폭발적인 증가를 기록했습니다.
회사의 연구에 따르면, 디지털 소싱으로의 상당한 전환이 나타나고 있으며, 44%의 중소기업이 올해 온라인 B2B 마켓플레이스를 통해 공급업체를 변경할 계획이라고 합니다. 또한, 조사에 응답한 미국 중소기업의 59%가 디지털 소싱이 작년보다 더 중요해졌다고 보고했습니다.
3월 엑스포는 기술과 AI를 활용하여 전 세계 수백만 명의 구매자와 공급업체를 연결하고, 제품 발견과 새로운 파트너십을 촉진하며, 프로모션 상품을 제공합니다.
Alibaba.com a signalé une augmentation de 27% des commandes des acheteurs PME américains lors de son March Expo 2025, un événement phare de sourcing virtuel. La croissance a été particulièrement forte dans les produits sportifs, avec une augmentation de 30%, les produits liés au pickleball ayant connu une hausse de 197%.
Les recherches de l'entreprise indiquent un changement significatif vers le sourcing numérique, avec 44% des PME prévoyant de changer de fournisseurs cette année via des places de marché B2B en ligne. De plus, 59% des PME américaines interrogées ont déclaré que le sourcing numérique est devenu plus important par rapport à l'année précédente.
Le March Expo tire parti de la technologie et de l'IA pour connecter des millions d'acheteurs avec des fournisseurs du monde entier, facilitant la découverte de produits et de nouveaux partenariats tout en offrant des offres promotionnelles.
Alibaba.com berichtete von einem 27%igen Anstieg der Bestellungen von US-SME-Käufern während seiner March Expo 2025, einer wichtigen virtuellen Beschaffungsveranstaltung. Das Wachstum war besonders stark bei Sportprodukten, die einen 30%igen Anstieg zeigten, während Produkte im Zusammenhang mit Pickleball um 197% in die Höhe schossen.
Die Forschung des Unternehmens zeigt einen signifikanten Wandel hin zur digitalen Beschaffung, wobei 44% der KMUs in diesem Jahr planen, ihre Lieferanten über Online-B2B-Marktplätze zu wechseln. Zudem berichteten 59% der befragten US-KMUs, dass digitale Beschaffung im Vergleich zum Vorjahr wichtiger geworden ist.
Die March Expo nutzt Technologie und KI, um Millionen von Käufern mit Lieferanten weltweit zu verbinden, die Produktentdeckung und neue Partnerschaften zu erleichtern und gleichzeitig Werbeangebote anzubieten.
- 27% YoY increase in US SME orders during March Expo
- 197% growth in pickleball-related product orders
- 30% YoY growth in sports products category
- 59% of US SMEs report increased importance of digital sourcing
- None.
Insights
Alibaba.com's 27% year-over-year order growth from US SMEs during its March Expo reveals strengthening momentum in the American B2B market. This performance indicator carries strategic significance as it demonstrates Alibaba's ability to expand beyond its traditional Asian strongholds into the competitive US market.
The 30% growth in sports products and remarkable 197% surge in pickleball-related items highlights two crucial capabilities: market responsiveness and trend capitalization. The platform effectively connects US buyers with suppliers capable of rapidly scaling production for emerging consumer trends, creating a competitive advantage over traditional sourcing channels with longer lead times.
Most importantly, the underlying shift toward digital sourcing represents a structural tailwind that extends beyond this single promotional event. With 44% of SMEs planning to change suppliers this year and 59% reporting increased importance of digital sourcing, Alibaba.com is positioned to benefit from a fundamental transformation in B2B supply chains.
While this data represents just one segment of Alibaba Group's diverse business portfolio and covers only a specific promotional period, the acceleration in adoption of digital sourcing platforms suggests Alibaba.com is gaining traction in its strategy to diversify revenue streams through international B2B marketplace growth.
The 27% order growth among US SMEs signals an accelerating disintermediation trend in supply chains, with businesses increasingly bypassing traditional middlemen in favor of direct manufacturer relationships through digital platforms. This shift fundamentally alters the value proposition for Alibaba.com beyond mere transaction facilitation.
The research indicating 44% of SMEs plan to change suppliers this year represents significant potential market share disruption. Traditional sourcing relationships are becoming less sticky as digital platforms reduce switching costs and information asymmetries, creating both opportunity and competitive pressure in the B2B marketplace landscape.
Particularly noteworthy is how specialty categories like pickleball equipment (197% growth) demonstrate the platform's ability to connect niche demand with specialized manufacturing capacity - a historically challenging process through conventional sourcing channels that required significant volume commitments.
The timing of this digital sourcing acceleration aligns with broader supply chain resilience initiatives following recent global disruptions. SMEs are likely leveraging Alibaba.com not just for cost advantages but also to diversify supplier relationships and reduce concentration risks. This dual-purpose value proposition strengthens Alibaba.com's competitive positioning as both an efficiency and risk-management tool for US small businesses entering a more uncertain economic environment.
March Expo, Alibaba.com's flagship sourcing event, saw US SME buyers leverage AI and digital sourcing to build new supplier partnerships and unlock growth opportunities
March Expo is Alibaba.com's flagship sourcing event. It connects millions of buyers with millions of suppliers from around the world, helping them discover the latest product opportunities and build new supplier partnerships while providing attractive promotional offers. A month-long virtual event, March Expo leverages technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital sourcing to make it easier for US SMEs to access growth opportunities via global trade.
Alibaba.com's US order growth was driven by growth across several key product categories across the country, particularly sports products, which saw an increase of nearly one third (
In addition, the strong order growth was driven by US SMEs switching to digital sourcing — buying goods directly from suppliers, rather than intermediaries. New data from Alibaba.com‡ revealed that nearly half of SMEs (
Kuo Zhang, President, Alibaba.com, said: "During this year's March Expo, there has been a noticeable shift in favor of digital sourcing, with order volumes amongst US SMEs rising sharply year-on-year. This trend aligns with our recent research, which revealed that US SMEs increasingly recognize the benefits of online sourcing, from affordability to trend responsiveness and supplier reliability. In addition, the rise in sports-related product purchases indicates that SME buyers are increasingly tapping into consumer trends and sourcing ready-made products. As businesses embrace digital sourcing, they gain greater flexibility and access to a wider range of products to support their growth."
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Notes to Editors
*The data was collected from March 1 to 7, 2025 and compared with the same period in 2024.
‡The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1,000 decision makers (aged 18+) in US SMEs who are responsible for sourcing in companies with under 150 employees (excluding sole traders). The data was collected between January 31, 2025 and February 6, 2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles. 'Digital sourcing' refers to sourcing products through online B2B marketplaces. 'More important' refers to 'Much more important' and 'More important' responses combined.
About Alibaba.com
Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce that serves buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions around the world. It is engaged in services covering various aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help them reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers and place orders online fast and efficiently. Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.
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SOURCE Alibaba.com
FAQ
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