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SearchThe European E-commerce Report 2026 forecasts that 73% of Spain’s population aged 16 to 74 will shop online in 2026. The rise in shipments is driving the use of collection points, lockers and logistics efficiency measures.
Spanish e-commerce continues to expand its consumer base, increasing the pressure on distribution networks. The European E-commerce Report 2026, prepared by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences for Ecommerce Europe and EuroCommerce, forecasts that 73% of the population aged 16 to 74 will shop online in 2026, compared with the 71% reported in one of the sources covering 2025. Spain’s forecast figure is below the 77% that the report attributes to Europe as a whole.
The expansion of this channel does not simply create more sales opportunities: it requires companies to handle more parcels and meet expectations for convenience, speed and competitive prices. For businesses, the challenge is to increase capacity without losing sight of delivery costs and operational efficiency.
CNMC data cited by Cadena de Suministro put the number of parcel shipments in Spain in 2024 at 1.216 billion, around 20% more than the previous year. In this context, out-of-home deliveries are gaining ground, although home delivery remains the dominant option: collection points handled 13.6% of parcels from e-commerce platforms, and lockers handled 3.8%.
The report also notes that 33% of logistics companies use lockers or convenience points to reduce failed delivery attempts. A further 26% have increased their use in urban areas. These alternatives can make receipt more flexible and help organise deliveries, but the available figures do not quantify the savings or support the claim that they are broadly replacing home delivery.
Competition among operators spans price, speed, flexibility, returns and shipment information. According to the Spanish chapter of the report, 55.8% of the companies surveyed consider logistics to have a high impact on their results. In addition, 99% say their customers are unwilling to pay a surcharge for sustainable delivery options, a finding that reflects the tension between environmental objectives and the price sensitivity highlighted in the study.
Business responses include route optimisation, warehouse automation and real-time parcel tracking. The report adds that 21% of companies have established urban logistics centres and that another 49% are assessing their feasibility. It also reports that 62% use electric or low-emission vehicles in their fleets. These are indicators of adoption and intention reported in the study, not a measure of their actual impact on costs or emissions.
The forecast that online shoppers will reach 73% in 2026 points to a broader digital consumer base, but the available sources do not fully agree on the 2025 figure: one reports 71% and another, 72%. These figures should therefore not be harmonised without checking the definition and statistical series used. The growth projection, by contrast, appears in both sources.
The same caution is useful when comparing activity indicators: the number of parcels, e-commerce revenue and the proportion of people who shop online measure different things. Taken together, the data portray an expanding market in which the last mile—the final stage of delivery—is becoming more diverse to handle greater volumes and ease operational pressure. For businesses, monitoring costs, capacity, failed deliveries and delivery preferences will be key to assessing which combinations of delivery methods suit each area and operation.
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