Walmart Marketplace Sales Grow, WFS Usage Reaches 52%
Walmart Marketplace sales increased by about 20% in the fourth quarter, WFS usage reached 52%, and inventory growth remained below sales growth.
What are the key facts?
- 1Fourth-quarter Marketplace sales increased by about 20%
- 2WFS usage reached 52%
- 3Inventory growth lagged sales growth
What happened?
A report on Walmart Marketplace indicated that third-party marketplace sales increased by about 20% in the fourth quarter. The report also said that usage of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) reached 52%, indicating that a growing share of Marketplace products are being stored and delivered through the fulfillment system. During the same period, inventory growth was lower than sales growth, meaning inventory expansion did not exceed the pace of sales growth. Walmart Marketplace’s third-party sellers continued expanding their product ranges and categories, while WFS became an important part of the platform’s fulfillment system. The report described recent changes in Walmart’s third-party business and supply-chain operations through Marketplace sales performance, WFS adoption, and the relationship between inventory and sales growth.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Growth in Walmart’s third-party business and rising WFS penetration indicate that platform competition is shifting from simply listing products to combining product supply with fulfillment capability. Sellers that pursue low prices without stable inventory and delivery performance may miss exposure and conversions during periods of growth. Highest-priority action: Calculate WFS fulfillment costs for a group of core SKUs this week and adjust replenishment timing against sales growth.