Alibaba, JD.com sales surge during 618 shopping festival on the back of subsidy programme

South China Morning Post

2 days ago

Preliminary 618 retail data from
Taobao and Tmall Group (TTG), Alibaba's domestic e-commerce unit, showed sales of categories that benefit from government subsidies – including consumer electronics products and home appliances – surged 283 per cent during the campaign's initial checkout period from May 13 to May 26, compared with the initial checkout period of its
Singles' Day campaign last year. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
For JD.com, sales of home appliances and electronics rose about 380 per cent year on year in the first hour of its 618 campaign, which started on May 30, according to the latest data on the company's website.
Both major e-commerce platforms were among the first to join the central government's renewed trade-in programme. The 2025 programme enables consumers who already claimed subsidies during last year's roll-out to receive new rebates.
The data from Alibaba and JD.com reflects improved domestic retail spending, as the national subsidy programme offers each consumer a rebate of up to 2,000 yuan (US$278) per item.
Eligible goods include consumer electronics products, such as personal computers and
smartphones , as well as a range of home appliances from refrigerators and washing machines to televisions and air conditioners.