// Amazon UK sales jumped 20% in 2021 and a startling 82% on 2019’s pre-pandemic levels
// UK sales reached £23.6 billion in 2021
Amazon has filed sales figures for its UK business, which show that revenue jumped 20% last year – and a startling 82% on pre-pandemic levels – as lockdown and heightened restrictions drove more shoppers to the online giant.
According to filings made today at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, sales in the UK leapt to £23.6 billion ($31.9 billion) in 2021 from £19.6 billion ($26.5 billion) in 2020. This is dramatically ahead of the £13 billion ($17.5 billion) of sales taken pre-pandemic in 2019.
Amazon has been a big winner over the past two years as shoppers have turned to online shopping in the face of store closures during lockdown and fears over rising infections.
When the UK was plunged into lockdown last January, ecommerce reached a record high and accounted for 37.7% of total retail sales, according to the Office for National Statistics. This compares to just 20.2% the previous January.
However, Amazon’s popularity has continued to thrive even after normality has resumed.
GlobalData research director Patrick O’Brien said: “While other major digital players appear to have peaked earlier in the pandemic, UK consumers show little let up in their reliance on Amazon. It’s a very strong performance against an exceptional comparative.”
Yesterday, Amazon reported its global net profits had doubled to £10.6 billion ($14.3 billion) during the golden quarter while net sales increased 9% to £101.1 billion ($137.4bn)
READ MORE: Amazon reveals sales surge and hike in Prime membership fee
It also revealed it will raise its Prime membership fee for US customers by 17% from next month to offset rising costs.
O’Brien expects the online juggernaut to extend its Prime price hike to the UK market.
“Prime is ingrained in the UK consumers mindset, and it will be confident it can raise prices here as it is doing in the US.”
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