In the peak months of November and December, Australia Post set a remarkable record, delivering 2,800 parcels every minute as Australians embraced online shopping to maximise their budgets. The latest statistics reveal that nearly 103 million parcels were shipped and 7.8 million households made at least one online purchase during this busy period.
The health and wellness sector experienced the most substantial growth, with a year-on-year increase of 20.5% in online purchases, highlighting a surge in demand for vitamins, protein powders, and dietary supplements. Following closely were athleisure and gardening tools, which saw growth rates of 15.8% and 14.6%, respectively.
The top three suburbs for online shopping activity were identified as Mackay and Toowoomba in Queensland, along with Point Cook in Victoria. December 9 emerged as the busiest day for parcel deliveries, underscoring the seasonal shopping rush.
Gary Starr, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager for Parcel, Post, and eCommerce, reflected on the record deliveries, attributing it to significant investments in enhanced parcel facilities. He emphasised that retailers have a remarkable opportunity to leverage the increasing trend towards online shopping, particularly during key sales periods.