E-commerce revenue growth stable on diversification efforts

The online retail sector maintained rapid growth in the first four months of the year amid the ongoing trend of internet giants moving their presence offline.

From January to April, e-commerce companies' revenues increased 31.2 percent year-on-year. In April alone, key online retail companies that the ministry monitors grew 21.4 percent compared to last year. The growth rate is 19.3 percent higher than that seen in department stores, 16.4 percent higher than shopping centers and 16.3 percent higher than supermarkets, according to the ministry.

In China, e-commerce channels are evolving rapidly, with about 60 percent of urban families now shopping via e-commerce channels.