Global Blue Releases the Monthly Tax Free Shopping Business Update for January 2025
Global Blue reported strong Tax Free Shopping growth in January 2025, with worldwide issued Sales in Store increasing by 29% year-on-year. Continental Europe showed a 19% growth, driven by a 24% increase in shopper numbers, despite a 4% decrease in average spend per shopper. US shoppers led spending growth at 34%, followed by European Non-EU (+31%) and GCC shoppers (+30%).
Asia Pacific demonstrated remarkable performance with 46% growth, accelerating from December's 29%. This was supported by a 36% increase in shopper numbers and 7% higher average spend. Mainland Chinese shoppers showed exceptional growth of 87%, with a 113% rise in shopper numbers. Key markets like South Korea (+72%) and Japan (+56%) displayed strong performance.
Compared to 2019 levels, worldwide recovery reached 176%, with Japan showing the strongest recovery at 364%, while Germany remained below pre-pandemic levels at 68%.
Global Blue ha riportato una forte crescita del Tax Free Shopping a gennaio 2025, con un aumento globale delle Vendite in Negozio del 29% rispetto all'anno precedente. L'Europa continentale ha mostrato una crescita del 19%, grazie a un aumento del 24% nel numero di acquirenti, nonostante una diminuzione del 4% nella spesa media per acquirente. Gli acquirenti statunitensi hanno guidato la crescita della spesa con un incremento del 34%, seguiti dagli acquirenti europei non UE (+31%) e dagli acquirenti del GCC (+30%).
Asia-Pacifico ha mostrato risultati straordinari con una crescita del 46%, in accelerazione rispetto al 29% di dicembre. Questo è stato supportato da un aumento del 36% nel numero di acquirenti e un incremento del 7% nella spesa media. Gli acquirenti cinesi della terraferma hanno mostrato una crescita eccezionale del 87%, con un aumento del 113% nel numero di acquirenti. Mercati chiave come la Corea del Sud (+72%) e il Giappone (+56%) hanno mostrato ottime performance.
Rispetto ai livelli del 2019, il recupero globale ha raggiunto il 176%, con il Giappone che mostra la ripresa più forte al 364%, mentre la Germania è rimasta al di sotto dei livelli pre-pandemia al 68%.
Global Blue informó un fuerte crecimiento de Tax Free Shopping en enero de 2025, con un aumento mundial en Ventas en Tienda del 29% interanual. Europa Continental mostró un crecimiento del 19%, impulsado por un aumento del 24% en el número de compradores, a pesar de una disminución del 4% en el gasto promedio por comprador. Los compradores estadounidenses lideraron el crecimiento del gasto con un 34%, seguidos por compradores europeos no UE (+31%) y compradores del GCC (+30%).
Asia-Pacífico demostró un rendimiento notable con un crecimiento del 46%, acelerándose desde el 29% de diciembre. Esto fue respaldado por un aumento del 36% en el número de compradores y un 7% más en el gasto promedio. Los compradores de China continental mostraron un crecimiento excepcional del 87%, con un aumento del 113% en el número de compradores. Mercados clave como Corea del Sur (+72%) y Japón (+56%) presentaron un sólido rendimiento.
En comparación con los niveles de 2019, la recuperación mundial alcanzó el 176%, con Japón mostrando la recuperación más fuerte al 364%, mientras que Alemania se mantuvo por debajo de los niveles prepandemia al 68%.
글로벌 블루는 2025년 1월에 강력한 면세 쇼핑 성장을 보고했으며, 전 세계 매장 내 판매가 전년 대비 29% 증가했습니다. 유럽 대륙은 19% 성장했으며, 이는 쇼핑객 수가 24% 증가한 덕분이며, 쇼핑객 1인당 평균 지출은 4% 감소했습니다. 미국 쇼핑객은 34%로 지출 성장률을 선도하였고, 유럽 비EU (+31%) 및 GCC (+30%) 쇼핑객이 뒤를 이었습니다.
아시아 태평양은 46%의 놀라운 성장을 보이며 12월의 29%에서 가속화되었습니다. 이는 쇼핑객 수가 36% 증가하고 평균 지출이 7% 증가하여 지원되었습니다. 중국 본토의 쇼핑객은 87%의 뛰어난 성장률을 보이며 쇼핑객 수가 113% 증가했습니다. 한국 (+72%)와 일본 (+56%)과 같은 주요 시장도 강력한 성과를 보였습니다.
2019년 대비 전 세계 회복률은 176%에 도달했으며, 일본은 364%로 가장 강력한 회복을 보였고, 독일은 팬데믹 전 수준에 비해 68%로 여전히 낮게 유지되고 있습니다.
Global Blue a rapporté une forte croissance du Tax Free Shopping en janvier 2025, avec des ventes mondiales en magasin augmentant de 29% par rapport à l'année précédente. L'Europe continentale a montré une croissance de 19%, soutenue par une augmentation de 24% du nombre d'acheteurs, malgré une baisse de 4% des dépenses moyennes par acheteur. Les acheteurs américains ont mené la croissance des dépenses avec 34%, suivis par les acheteurs européens non UE (+31%) et ceux du CCG (+30%).
La région Asie-Pacifique a affiché des performances remarquables avec une croissance de 46%, s'accélérant par rapport au 29% de décembre. Cela a été soutenu par une augmentation de 36% du nombre d'acheteurs et 7% de dépenses moyennes supplémentaires. Les acheteurs chinois continentaux ont montré une croissance exceptionnelle de 87%, avec une augmentation de 113% du nombre d'acheteurs. Des marchés clés comme la Corée du Sud (+72%) et le Japon (+56%) ont également montré de solides performances.
Comparé aux niveaux de 2019, la récupération mondiale a atteint 176%, le Japon affichant la récupération la plus forte avec 364%, tandis que l'Allemagne est restée en dessous des niveaux d'avant la pandémie à 68%.
Global Blue meldete ein starkes Wachstum im Bereich Tax Free Shopping im Januar 2025, wobei die globalen Verkaufszahlen im Geschäft um 29% im Jahresvergleich gestiegen sind. Das kontinentale Europa zeigte ein Wachstum von 19%, das durch einen Anstieg der Käuferzahlen um 24% angetrieben wurde, obwohl der durchschnittliche Ausgabenbetrag pro Käufer um 4% zurückging. Die US-Käufer führten das Wachstum der Ausgaben mit 34% an, gefolgt von europäischen Nicht-EU-Käufern (+31%) und Käufern aus dem GCC (+30%).
Asien-Pazifik zeigte eine bemerkenswerte Leistung mit einem Wachstum von 46%, das sich im Vergleich zu 29% im Dezember beschleunigte. Dies wurde durch einen Anstieg der Käuferzahlen um 36% und einen um 7% höheren durchschnittlichen Ausgabenbetrag unterstützt. Käufer aus dem Festlandchina verzeichneten ein außergewöhnliches Wachstum von 87%, mit einem Anstieg der Käuferzahlen um 113%. Schlüsselmärkte wie Südkorea (+72%) und Japan (+56%) zeigten ebenfalls starke Leistungen.
Im Vergleich zu den Werten von 2019 erreichte die weltweite Erholung 176%, wobei Japan mit 364% die stärkste Erholung aufwies, während Deutschland mit 68% unter dem Niveau vor der Pandemie blieb.
- Worldwide Tax Free Shopping growth of 29% YoY in January 2025
- Asia Pacific sales growth accelerated to 46% YoY
- Mainland Chinese shopper spending increased 87% with 113% more shoppers
- Strong recovery vs 2019 levels at 176% worldwide
- Japan showed exceptional recovery at 364% of 2019 levels
- 4% decrease in average spend per shopper in Continental Europe
- North East Asia shopper Tax Free Spend declined 2% YoY
- Germany's recovery remains weak at 68% of 2019 levels
Insights
The January 2025 Tax Free Shopping data reveals compelling insights into global luxury retail trends and travel patterns. Continental Europe's +19% growth, driven by a +24% increase in shopper numbers despite a -4% decrease in average spend, signals strong tourism recovery but potential consumer spending caution.
Particularly noteworthy is the robust performance from US shoppers (+34%) and GCC travelers (+30%) in Europe, while Mainland Chinese spending remained modest at +1%. This spending pattern suggests a rebalancing of luxury retail dependence away from Chinese consumers, traditionally the sector's growth engine.
Asia Pacific's acceleration to +46% growth marks a significant improvement from December's +29%, with South Korea (+72%) and Japan (+56%) showing exceptional strength. The 87% surge in Mainland Chinese spending in Asia Pacific, coupled with a 113% increase in shopper numbers, indicates a strong regional travel recovery and preference for closer-destination shopping.
Recovery rates versus 2019 are particularly telling - Japan at 364% and France at 190% of pre-pandemic levels demonstrate structural improvements in these markets' ability to capture luxury spending. However, Germany's 68% recovery rate suggests ongoing challenges in attracting international shoppers.
The divergence between Continental Europe (+19%) and Asia Pacific (+46%) growth rates points to a shifting global luxury retail landscape, with Asia Pacific potentially emerging as the more dynamic region for tax-free shopping. This trend could have significant implications for luxury retailers' regional strategies and resource allocation.
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Fresh data from Global Blue reveals that the worldwide growth in Tax Free Shopping is positive across Continental Europe and
Asia Pacific : Issued Sales in Store like-for-like year-on-year performance reached +29% 1 in January 2025.
SIGNY,
In Continental
When examining origin markets, US Tax Free Spend led the way at +
Regarding destination markets, January showed a solid performance in
An Accelerated Tax Free Spend Performance in
In
When examining origin markets, the positive momentum in issued Sales in Store growth continued across most nationalities. Mainland Chinese shopper Tax Free Spend led with a +
Regarding destination markets, January showed a strong performance across destinations, with
Worldwide Year-on-Year Growth Rate (2025 vs. 2024)
Issued SIS L/L Year-on-Year Growth |
Destination market weight in Issued SIS 2024 |
January 2025 |
December 2024 |
CY Q4 2024 |
CY Q3 2024 |
CY Q2 2024 |
CY Q1 2024 |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
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+ |
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+ |
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+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Other countries |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Total Continental Europe |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
+ |
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+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
Total |
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+ |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
Total |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
Total worldwide |
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+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
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Worldwide Recovery Rate (versus 2019)
| Issued SIS L/L
recovery (in % of 2019) |
Destination market weight in Issued SIS 2019 |
January 2025 |
December 2024 |
CY Q4 2024 |
CY Q3 2024 |
CY Q2 2024 |
CY Q1 2024 |
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Other countries |
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Total Continental Europe |
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Total |
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Total |
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Total worldwide |
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APPENDIX
GLOSSARY
- European Non-EU countries include: Shoppers who can reach destination by land transportation or less than a two hour flight. Ex: Swiss, British,
- Gulf Cooperation Council countries include:
- North East Asia countries includes:
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ABOUT GLOBAL BLUE
Global Blue is the business partner for the shopping journey, providing technology and services to enhance the experience and drive performance.
With over 40 years of expertise, today we connect thousands of retailers, acquirers, and hotels with nearly 80 million consumers across 53 countries, in three industries: Tax Free Shopping, Payments and Post-Purchase solutions.
With over 2,000 employees, Global Blue generated
For more information, please visit www.globalblue.com
Global Blue Monthly Intelligence Briefing, January 2025, Source: Global Blue
1 Growth rate variation year-on-year (2025 vs. the same period in 2024)
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250207266485/en/
MEDIA
Virginie Alem – SVP Marketing & Communications
Mail: valem@globalblue.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Frances Gibbons – Head of Investor Relations
Mob: +44 (0)7815 034 212
Mail: fgibbons@globalblue.com
Source: Global Blue
FAQ
What was Global Blue's worldwide Tax Free Shopping growth in January 2025?
How did Mainland Chinese shoppers perform in Asia Pacific markets?
Which regions showed the strongest recovery compared to 2019 levels?
How did Continental Europe perform in January 2025?
Which destination markets showed the strongest performance in Asia Pacific?
