Jamaica Shipping & Selling eCommerce Guide

Shipping to Jamaica is an excellent way to grow your customer base and boost sales. Although not typically thought of as the first place to expand an eCommerce business cross-border, Jamaica still offers a great opportunity for savvy merchants thanks to its youthful population and improving the business climate.

Before you actually start shipping to Jamaica, it's important to better understand its eCommerce market, import prohibitions, and the like. Here’s a quick look at all that and more!

Young, Internet-Savvy Population

Jamaica is an English-speaking island nation in the Caribbean. The country’s total population is approximately 2.8 million, with a median age of about 26.3 years old.

With approximately 1.5 million Internet users as of 2017, the country’s Internet penetration is approximately 56 percent. According to a report released by the International Monetary Fund, Jamaica’s GDP per capita is also believed to be about $5,048, with a real GDP growth rate of approximately 1.7 percent.

Jamaica currently ranks as the third-largest Internet user base in the Caribbean. According to the World Bank 2018 Doing Business Report, there have been significant improvements in the country’s business climate, especially as Jamaica ranked 12th out of the 58 countries surveyed in 2017 in the Internet Accessibility Index.

In addition, 84 percent of all households also have access to mobile phones in Jamaica.

This increasing Internet penetration and youthful population make the country very attractive for online merchants looking to go cross-border to the Caribbean.

Major Online Marketplaces Dominate

Just like other countries, there are certain marketplaces where Jamaicans feel more comfortable shopping from. Generally, major online marketplaces tend to be favored by Jamaicans, including:

• Amazon
• eBay
• Walmart.com

As always, be sure to thoroughly research the competition, pricing, demographics, and other key data on each eCommerce platform before you start shipping to Jamaica to achieve the best results!

Electronics, Appliances Top Product Categories

eCommerce consumers in Jamaica have their preferences as far as online shopping is concerned. Below are the categories receiving the highest amount of online traffic in terms of product searches in the country:

• Electronics
• Appliances
• Groceries
• Furniture

Holidays Offer Prime Selling Times

When it comes to shipping to Jamaica, there are certain times of the year when Jamaicans tend to shop online more frequently. These periods include:

• New Year’s - January
• Easter - April
• Independence Day - August
• Christmas - December
• Boxing Day - December

In order to make the most of these popular times for online shopping, online merchants should always make sure their stores are fully stocked, as a lack of product availability may lead to lower sales and increased cart abandonment.

In addition, mobile commerce is significantly changing eCommerce trends in Jamaica, and with mobile phone usage high in the country and more people shopping from their mobile devices, your online store and product listings should always be mobile-friendly for optimal results.

Shipping to Jamaica

Every country has its own shipping restrictions and prohibitions, and Jamaica is no exception. Below are some of the prohibited items to know before you send a package to Jamaica:

• Plants
• Animals
• Firearms
• Drugs
• Explosives
• Tobacco
• Money
• Chemicals
• Seeds

Notably, Jamaica also has a 16.5 percent General Consumption Tax with a tax and duty threshold of only USD $20.

Import duties vary greatly in the country, with products such as mobile devices, computers, books, and documents facing no import duties. However, watches and jewelry face a steep 30 percent import duty while fashion products, toys, cameras, health, and beauty products are all subject to a 20 percent import duty.

Major Couriers Offer Shipping to Jamaica

Fortunately for online merchants, major couriers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, GlobalPost, APC, and USPS offer to ship to Jamaica.

To find cheap shipping to Jamaica and the fastest and best value delivery options available, be sure to use the Easyship shipping rates calculator to access more than 200 shipping solutions with discounted, pre-negotiated rates!

Jamaica: A Thriving eCommerce Market in the Caribbean

Jamaica is a thriving online marketplace in the Caribbean, making it an excellent opportunity for online merchants looking for lucrative cross-border opportunities. Sign up for a free Easyship account today to start shipping to Jamaica and growing your business!