Shopify Reports 136% Surge in UK Cross-Border Sales, Driven by AI
UK businesses using Shopify have recorded a 136% increase in cross-border e-commerce sales since 2022, according to new research by the Canada-based e-commerce platform. The company’s Entrepreneur Effect report revealed that Shopify-powered businesses generated £71.1 billion in economic activity in the UK alone, supporting 479,000 jobs over the past year. Globally, these businesses contributed $1.2 trillion in economic activity, marking a 110% increase since 2022.
The report highlighted how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are lowering barriers to entrepreneurship, enabling businesses to launch and expand more quickly. In 2025, approximately 1.2 million stores made their first sale on Shopify, averaging one new seller every 26 seconds. Around 78% of surveyed merchants built their stores independently, while app installations reached 21 million, up 19.5% from 2024. Shopify also reported that 43% more stores are now making their first sale within one day of signing up compared with 2022.
AI is emerging as a significant driver of online sales, with AI-referred sessions recording an 80% higher conversion rate than organic-search sessions between April and June 2026. Orders originating from AI channels also recorded 14% higher average order values and generated nearly twice as many orders from new buyers as other channels. According to Shopify, these findings demonstrate how AI-powered tools and digital commerce are helping businesses reach new customers, improve sales performance and expand beyond domestic markets.
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