Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and , reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 2/26/2019

According to a March 2018 telecom regulator report, 87.8 of households regularly use internet and the number of individuals using mobile internet has increased by six percent in 2018 reaching 1.6 million users.  While Kosovo has the highest internet penetration rate in the region, the ecommerce sector is in its nascency.  The service and trade sectors are the primary users of ecommerce, but the majority of their sales are still done through traditional methods.  Most commercial banks have introduced internet banking, and all utilities offer online bill payment options.   

eCommerce is regulated by the 2012 laws on Information Society Services and Consumer Protection.  Kosovo follows EU standards for ecommerce and consumer protection.  The average consumer in Kosovo does not make purchases via ecommerce, but online sales have increased since 2016. 

Cross-border ecommerce increased dramatically in 2016.  Well-known ecommerce websites, including Amazon, Aliexpress and ASOS, recently added Kosovo to the list of countries they ship to, simplifying purchases and increasing the number of online transactions.  Per Kosovo Statistics Agency data, the majority of online purchases in Kosovo are made with EU and U.S. retailers.  Payment methods for ecommerce transactions include e-banking, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), and cash-on-delivery for the domestic market.  While third-party methods such as PayPal and Payoneer generally do not offer services in Kosovo, some users find work-arounds leveraging banks in neighboring countries.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.