China's C2C Market Size Doubled by Q3 2005; Taobao Likely to Surpass eBay in 2006

Press Release

Analysys International, a leading Internet-based business information service provider, says that China's C2C market has grown dramatically and Taobao's subscribers will likely surpass eBay in 8 months in its recently released data report: Quarterly Tracker on China's C2C Market 2005-Q3.
According to the study, the number of China's registered C2C market subscribers in 2004 was 15.08 million, while by the end of Q3 2005, the total had reached 29.84 million, which is almost double in only 9 months. Among which, subscribers of eBay alone reached 15.10 million, with Taobao.com close behind. From the transaction handled perspective, China's total C2C market size in the first three quarters of 2005 reached RMB8.77 billion, which is almost twice that of the annual turnover of 2004. So far this year, Taobao.com lead the market with a 57.1% share in terms of transaction handled, with its turnover in Q1 at RMB1.02 billion, Q2 at 1.67 billion and Q3 at 2.32 billion.

Based on further research regarding the growth rate and the development trend, Analysys International thinks Taobao's subscribers will likely surpass eBay in the first half of next year. Meanwhile, as Taobao's advantage over eBay in turnover keeps on increasing, till then, Taobao will lead China's C2C market in terms of both subscribers and transaction handled.
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SOURCE Analysys International

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