Bharat e-commerce could reach $80–90B in 4–5 years, Stellaris forecasts

Stellaris Venture Partners estimates tier 2 and tier 3 e-commerce could expand from $25–30 billion to $80–90 billion as the next 300 million value-conscious consumers come online. The model depends on lower AOVs, leaner margins, higher order volumes and faster delivery.

— Source publishedSat, 12 Sept, 2026, 08:03 IST·First seen Sat, 12 Sept, 2026, 08:58 IST·Source ET Retail

What happened

Stellaris Venture Partners · Stellaris forecasts Bharat commerce in tier 2 and tier 3 markets could grow to $80-90 billion within four to five years, driven by

Key facts

  • $80-90 billion projected tier 2 and tier 3 e-commerce market
  • $25-30 billion current tier 2 and tier 3 market
  • Next 300 million value-conscious consumers
  • Nearly 3X market expansion
  • 4-5 years

What changed

Stellaris forecasts Bharat commerce in tier 2 and tier 3 markets could grow to $80-90 billion within four to five years, driven by 300 million value-conscious consumers. The model requires lower AOVs and margins, higher volumes, same-day delivery, and affordable branded products.

What to watch

  • Sustained growth in tier 2/3 monthly transacting users and order frequency, not just app installs.
  • AOV trends versus contribution margin after delivery, returns, discounts and payment-failure costs.
  • Share of prepaid/UPI orders and changes in COD rejection and return-to-origin rates.
  • District-level delivery density sufficient to lower cost per drop and improve promised-delivery adherence.
  • Growth of regional-language search, voice commerce and assisted-order conversion rates.