Digital Technology and Internet use, 2012

Canadian enterprises sold almost $122 billion of goods and services over the Internet in 2012. This total was just over double the value of online sales in 2007, the last time a similar survey was conducted. Three sectors, manufacturing, wholesale trade and retail trade, accounted for more than 61% of the total value of sales.

Overall, 11% of Canadian enterprises made sales of goods or services online in 2012, up from 8% in 2007. The value of online sales was highest in the wholesale trade sector at $44.6 billion,

while the percentage of firms selling online was highest in the information and cultural industries sector, at 35%.

Canada’s largest firms, as defined in the Note to readers, dominated the online selling market, accounting for about $71.9 billion or 59% of the value of tota

l online sales. Almost one-third (31%) of large enterprises sold online in 2012.

Overall, e-commerce sales accounted for 4% of total sales of goods and services by Canadian enterprises.

Almost half of Canadian enterprises made purchases of goods or services online in 2012.

1.Small size enterprises have 0 to 19 full-time employees.

2.Medium size businesses have 20 to 99 full-time employees, except for medium size manufacturing enterprises in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 31-33 that have 20 to 499 full-time employees.

3.Large size enterprises have 100 or more full-time employees, except for large size manufacturing enterprises in NAICS 31-33 that have 500 or more full-time employees.

For More information please see Statistics Canada.