GenAI user penetration is high across Asia-Pacific, but every country has its nuances. Government policy, local AI ecosystems, demographics, and digital infrastructure are creating distinct paths to adoption in China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Third-party marketplaces concentrate most of the world's online shopping, and the model keeps expanding: social platforms now run marketplaces, US retailers are opening their marketplaces to international shoppers, and Latin America has become the most contested battleground. This FAQ covers how marketplace power is distributed, where the growth is, and what sellers should do about it in 2026.

Tepid sales growth reflects deepening consumer caution and weaker demand.

With domestic demand weakening, companies are chasing growth in the US and other international markets.

Alibaba, Pinduoduo, JD.com, ByteDance, and Xiaohongshu face scrutiny amid weak demand.

Retail media ad spend in Japan is growing fast. But it remains less mature due to a fragmented retail sector, strong traditional players, legacy systems, and a culture favoring offline relationships. Convenience stores and mobile payments will drive growth.

China rivalry and US headwinds dent earnings, even as Temu courts value seekers.

Amid economic pressure, Asia-Pacific ad spend growth is slowing while digital’s share expands. Uncertainty has been the driver for ad dollars to shift to digital for measurability, boosting retail media and digital video.

Total media time is plateauing across Asia-Pacific. But mobile and video are driving digital’s continued gains as traditional media declines.

AI and food delivery investments drive revenue growth at Alibaba and JD, but at the expense of profits.

Global ad spending is accelerating again, despite geopolitical shocks. Digital is tightening its grip, even as traditional media gets a temporary boost from major events. The sources of growth are shifting across regions—and among platforms.

The company’s agentic commerce expansion underscores diverging adoption trends in the US and China.

Alibaba and other tech giants in China are accelerating AI adoption with aggressive subsidies and ecosystem advantages. OpenClaw is fueling agentic AI beyond chat into execution, giving users tools that act on their behalf. Consumer enthusiasm and trust are speeding the move toward agent-led commerce.

Asia-Pacific retail sales growth will stay resilient at 4.9% in 2026 despite volatility, as ecommerce in China nears 50% of retail sales, and livestreaming will top $1 trillion for the first time. Instant and AI-driven commerce will reshape the region’s digital commerce future, and India and Southeast Asia will power the next growth wave.

Stronger Spring Festival spending and a surge in holiday travel hint at renewed consumer momentum in China. Spending on technology, sustainability categories, and travel is offering some retailers cause for optimism.

Regulatory crackdowns and trade barriers threaten growth—but its consumer appeal remains strong.

China’s Q4 spending reinforced platform consolidation, as advertisers concentrated budgets on large platforms with data, scale, and commerce integration.

China’s ad rebound remains narrow; Q4 spending stabilized, but concentrated in low-risk, performance-driven channels—signaling a cautious market entering 2026.

Global ad spending has steadied after a turbulent year, setting the stage for modest acceleration in 2026. Digital is still the main engine, but traditional media’s rebound will add lift as markets stabilize.

Singles Day transactions in China rose 17.6% YoY to 1.7 trillion yuan ($240 billion), according to Syntun, marking a slowdown from last year’s 26.6% gain despite extended campaigns and heavy promotions from Alibaba and JD.com. Platforms poured billions into vouchers and discounts, but longer sale periods diluted urgency and limited impact. The event’s waning momentum highlights China’s broader economic challenges—rising frugality, youth unemployment, and deflationary pressures. To reignite excitement, platforms may need to move away from drawn-out promotions toward shorter, high-impact campaigns that restore Singles Day’s original urgency and appeal.