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: 10/22/2018

Overview

Ecommerce is not yet widely used in Suriname. Local businesses do not use ecommerce as a marketing tool on a large scale due to limited bandwidth and low internet dispersion. However, several companies do provide some ecommerce services to customers. These companies may function as intermediaries offering consumers online ordering options. Cash transactions dominate trade. A small group of businesspeople and foreign visitors use credit cards such as American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. According to 2016 figures of Euromonitor International, 46.4 percent of the population uses the internet.

Current Market Trends

The government is working toward drafting legislation regarding electronic transactions and establishing a secured transaction network. In 2016, a modern multi-homed and multi-tenant data center became operational in Suriname.

Domestic eCommerce (B2C)
Local companies are increasingly using social media such as Facebook, Facebook messenger, and Whatsapp to approach and sell to consumers. Business oriented people also use LinkedIn to promote their services worldwide.

Cross-Border eCommerce
The United States, China, and The Netherlands are the primary countries from where Surinamers make online purchases.

B2B eCommerce
The B2B ecommerce is not widely used in the local market.

eCommerce 
Customers can use Ebay to purchase products (not sell) and PayPal for personal accounts. Ecommerce is in the early stages of development in Suriname.

eCommerce Intellectual Property Rights
There is no legislation that pertains to ecommerce.

Popular eCommerce Sites
Customers predominately use eBay, Amazon, and Alibaba.

Online Payment
Customers use Paypal, Master Card, or Visa Card to make online payments.

Mobile eCommerce
Businesses in the service sector, such as telecommunication companies, use Mobile ecommerce.

Digital Marketing 
Digital marketing is on the rise in the local market as businesses recognize the importance of this advertising technique and are focused on developing digital marketing strategies. Marketing service providers are specialized in social media services, ecommerce websites, internet campaigns, and mobile marketing.

Major Buying Holidays
In the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase of local businesses promoting the sales of goods on Black Friday.

Social Media
Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Youtube, and Instagram are commonly used social media platforms to promote, market, and provide information for goods and services.

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.


More Information

Suriname eCommerce Industry Trade Development and Promotion eCommerce