Alibaba International Nears Break-Even in Q1, with AliExpress's Brand Program Exceeding 30% Active Consumer Penetration

[Ebrun Original] On May 13, Alibaba Group released its financial results for the first quarter of 2026. The report shows that Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC) recorded revenue of RMB 35.429 billion (approximately USD 5.136 billion) for the quarter, a 6% increase from RMB 33.579 billion in the same period last year. Its EBITA loss was RMB 138 million, a significant narrowing from the RMB 3.574 billion loss a year ago, bringing the business close to break-even.

According to the financial report, this improvement was primarily driven by logistics optimization and enhanced operational efficiency, coupled with the continuous and significant quarter-over-quarter improvement in the unit economics of AliExpress's Choice business. Furthermore, AliExpress's "Brand Program" has accelerated the pace of brand onboarding, with the program's penetration rate among active consumers exceeding 30% this quarter.

Breaking down by business segment, Alibaba's international retail commerce revenue for Q1 was RMB 28.917 billion (USD 4.192 billion), a 5% increase from RMB 27.603 billion in Q1 2025. This growth was significantly contributed by revenue from AliExpress and other international businesses, partially offset by a revenue decline from Lazada. The international wholesale commerce revenue for Q1 was RMB 6.512 billion (USD 944 million), a 9% increase from RMB 5.976 billion in Q1 2025, mainly due to increased revenue from cross-border related value-added services.

The financial report also stated that in addition to the existing AI procurement agent Accio, Alibaba.com has launched Accio Work, an intelligent business platform for global SMEs. This tool extends beyond procurement to cover the entire operational lifecycle, aiming to lower the barriers to entry for cross-border trade and improve operational efficiency.