Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos. Source: Brent Lewis/The Denver Post/Getty Images
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  • Three years on from its Australian launch, Amazon has tabled over $1 billion in revenue from sales down under
  • The eCommerce giant brought in $1.12 billion over 2020 — almost double the $562.1 million in revenue over 2019
  • Almost half the retail stalwart’s revenue in 2020 came from sales on Amazon’s online store, clocking in at $511 million
  • But with extra sales came extra expenditure, and Amazon Australia couldn’t escape a loss in 2020
  • The business fell $3.8 million into the red — with losses down marginally on 2019’s $4.7 million loss
  • Amazon’s Australia’s latest financials come after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced he was stepping down last week

Three years on from its Australian launch, Amazon has tabled over $1 billion in revenue from sales down under.

The eCommerce giant brought in $1.12 billion over 2020 — almost double the $562.1 million in revenue over 2019.

The sales surge comes as the COVID-19 pandemic kept Aussie shoppers at home and online. Almost half the retail stalwart’s revenue in 2020 came from sales on Amazon’s online store, clocking in at $511 million.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s marketplace business brought in $126 million in revenue, and its Prime subscription service revenue almost tripled to $90 million.

But with extra sales came extra expenditure, and Amazon Australia couldn’t escape a loss in 2020. The business fell $3.8 million into the red — with losses down marginally on 2019’s $4.7 million loss.

This morning, the tech giant also announced it would expand its presence in South Australia with a new office. The move is set to create over 50 new jobs by 2024.

According to a press release from the premier’s stable, Amazon’s Adelaide office will include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing subsidiary, and Amazon Sciences, a team carrying out artificial intelligence and machine learning research.

“Our new office in Adelaide demonstrates our ongoing commitment to invest in Australia, and the long-term potential we believe there is for our nation to be a leader in the global digital economy,” Sarah Bassett, AWS’s Head of South and Western Australia, commented today.

Amazon’s Australia’s latest financials come after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced he was stepping down last week.

He’ll remain on the NASDAQ-lister’s board as Executive Chairman, while veteran Andy Jassy will take the reins as Chief Executive in 2021’s third quarter.

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