Alibaba bites bullet in renewed push for growth amid antitrust climate, increased competition

Alibaba will invest incremental profits in its new financial year into strategic areas, such as technology innovation and support for merchants

Its renewed growth focus comes amid Beijing’s efforts to rein in the unchecked growth and influence of the country’s Big Tech companies

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Alibaba Group Holding remains positive about the growth of China’s consumption economy, which is benefiting from the acceleration of digitalisation in all aspects of life and work. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:00pm, 14 May 2021Updated: 11:00pm, 14 May 2021

Alibaba Group Holding will strengthen its engagement with consumers and merchants in the world’s largest e-commerce market, according to analysts, in an effort to put the company’s first quarterly loss in nine years behind after being slapped with a record fine by regulators for antitrust violations.

“The retail business of Alibaba, which is the country’s biggest [e-commerce] player, still maintains a high growth rate,” said Chen Tao, an analyst at internet research and consulting firm Analysys. “It will not be easily surpassed by others.”

The US$2.8 billion fine imposed against Alibaba by the State Administration for Market Regulation in April had no material impact on the company’s core advantages, including strong market recognition and advanced capabilities in matching consumers with products and merchants, according to Chen.

Alibaba, the parent company of the South China Morning Post, has promised to assist regulators in maintaining “market order”, while adhering to the country’s antitrust rules.

A person walks past a sign at Alibaba Group Holding’s headquarters in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province, on May 8, 2021. Photo: Bloomberg

Some analysts said Alibaba still faces challenges ahead.

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