China’s mobile shopping market grew by 168 per cent in Q1 2015 to CNY362 billion ($59 billion), sharply outpacing the 45 per cent year-on-year growth in the overall online shopping market.

The country’s mobile shopping market, as measured by gross merchandise volumes (GMV), is forecast to continue to grow rapidly in Q2, according to data released by Beijing-based iResearch.

Mobile shopping accounted for nearly 50 per cent online shopping in China in Q1, more than doubled from 22 per cent a year earlier. Compared to Q4, when GMV peaked at CNY380 billion, the market fell 4.7 per cent sequentially in Q1.

iResearch noted that Chinese netizens have gradually become familiar with mobile shopping, while PC traffic growth has slowed.

Alibaba’s Taobao Wireless accounted for the vast majority of mobile GMV, but its share dropped to 84.5 per cent from 87.4 per cent a year ago as JD.com and Vip gained share. JD.com’s mobile share rose to 5.2 per cent from 3.3 per cent a year ago; Vip’s share is now 2.8 per cent.

China mobile shopping
iResearch said that competition in the mobile shopping space has become more fierce, with all the players announcing new initiatives to expand their share.