Revenues from e-commerce accounted for nearly 12 percent of European business income in 2008, according to a recent report published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The share of enterprise turnover generated from e-commerce during the period under review varied significantly between member states. The highest shares were recorded in Ireland (26 percent), Finland and Sweden (18 percent each), the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom (all 15 percent), Hungary (14 percent) and France (13 percent). The lowest shares were reported in Romania (2 percent), Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 1 percent).

Data also indicates that in the EU member states, almost three-quarters of e-commerce revenue came from within the country, 19 percent from another member state and 8 percent from a non-European state. The highest proportions of e-commerce revenue generated within the country were registered in Latvia (88 percent), Bulgaria (85 percent), the United Kingdom (83 percent), Greece and France (both 82 percent) and Spain (81 percent). Hungary registered the highest share of e-commerce turnover with another member state (60 percent), followed by Cyprus (51 percent), Slovakia (44 percent) and Ireland (39 percent). Enterprises in Malta and Slovakia generated the highest share of e-commerce revenues from a non-European country (56 percent and 34 percent, respectively).