Shipping to Norway is a great way to take your eCommerce business cross-border and tap into a thriving European market. The country boasts a robust economy, wealthy and well-educated population and solid Internet penetration, making it an ideal market for eCommerce.
Before you actually start shipping to Norway, it’s important to better understand the country’s eCommerce market. To that end, here’s a quick look at some market insights, online marketplaces to sell on, popular product categories, import restrictions, couriers to consider using and more!
Desktops More Popular for Online Shopping Than Mobile Devices in Norway
With a population of approximately 5.3 million people and a total GDP per capita of $74,930, which is expected to reach approximately $79,098 by 2022, Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Approximately 97 percent of Norwegians also have access to the Internet, with approximately 75 percent of them shopping online. These conditions make Norway primed for cross-border selling by globally-minded SMBs!
Currently, there are approximately 3.2 million online shoppers in Norway and by 2022, an additional 260,000 shoppers are expected to join the already robust eCommerce audience in the country. These online shoppers are also expected to spend an average of $2,666.93 by 2022.
eCommerce revenue in Norway currently stands at over $6 billion with a projected increase to over $9 billion by 2022, boasting a growth rate of 7.5 percent annually. Notably, over 80 percent of Norwegian online shoppers use their desktop computers to make purchases, compared to just eight percent shopping on tablets and four percent shopping on smartphones.
It’s also important to note that Norwegians appear particularly receptive to buying cross-border products. Currently, about half of online shoppers in Norway buy globally, more than any other Nordic country.
Additionally, many popular product categories, including mobile and tablet devices, jewelry, accessories and health and beauty products, are duty-free. A notable exception is fashion products, which are subject to an 11 percent import duty.
Local Online Marketplaces Mix with Global Ones
Norwegians shop online at a mix of both local and global online marketplaces. A few popular ones include:
Fashion, Media Dominate as Popular Product Categories
Norwegians buy a diverse assortment of products online. A few of the top product categories in the country are as follows:
- Fashion leads the pack with a 28 percent market share
- Media follows close behind at a 27 percent market share
- Home electronics comes next with a 21 percent market share
- Health/beauty stands at a 17 percent market share
Notably, fashion currently accounts for approximately $2 billion in market share value and is expected to increase to $2.2 billion by 2022.
Shipping to Norway
The tax paid on shipping goods to Norway is determined by the total amount of a customer’s purchase. The country maintains a “de minimis value” policy, which means that when a customer’s shipment value falls below the de minimis value, there are no duties or taxes levied on such shipments.
However, if the shipment exceeds the de minimis value, appropriate duties and taxes apply.
The current threshold for taxes and duties in Norway is 350 Norwegian Krone, or approximately $40.60 US dollars.
Restricted and Prohibited Items in Norway
Norway, like every country, has its own set of import restrictions and prohibitions. Here’s a quick look at some of them!
Restricted Items
- Human organs or body parts
- Cremated remains
- Explosives
- Objects that look like bombs, hand grenades and other explosive materials
- Firearms
- Perishable foodstuffs
Prohibited Items
- Acids
- DMF-containing products
- Hazardous batteries
- Hazardous chemicals
- Hazardous cosmetics
- Corrosives
- Gases
You can find a more comprehensive list of restricted and prohibited items in Norway here.
Local and International Couriers to Use for Shipping to Norway
Fortunately, shipping to Norway is easy, as many major couriers such as UPS, FedEx and DHL offer shipping services there. USPS and the country’s own postal service, The Norwegian Post, are other options to consider.
Finding the best courier for your eCommerce business is also simple and quick to do with Easyship’s shipping rates calculator, as you can compare courier rates easily to see the cheapest, fastest and best value shipping solutions for shipping to Norway.
Norway: One of Northern Europe’s Top eCommerce Markets
Norway is another great cross-border market opportunity to explore thanks to its robust eCommerce market and strong economy. Sign up for a free Easyship account today to take advantage of our global courier network with discounted rates and start shipping to Norway!
