Ecommerce Order Volumes Surge in Q2 2025 Amid Heatwave

July 16, 2025 Rachael Hirst

UK and European ecommerce order volumes increased by +18% in the first quarter (Q2) of 2025, with a +25% spike in June, as exceptionally hot weather combined with Father’s Day gifting boosted online sales, according to data from Scurri Unpacked – Scurri’s quarterly review of ecommerce delivery trends based on over 200 million annual shipments processed through its delivery management platform.

Seasonal Products Drive Growth During Record Heat

With June 2025 confirmed by the Met Office as one of the UK’s warmest on record, and much of Europe experiencing significantly higher-than-average temperatures, seasonal categories recorded the strongest performance. The rise in order volumes was led by:

Garden and outdoor products (+48%)
Homewares (+46%)
Toys and fashion (both +33%)
Sports equipment (+31%)

UK Growth Fueled by Father’s Day Gifting

In the UK, ecommerce volumes increased by +6% YOY in Q2, driven in part by Father’s Day spending – which was predicted to exceed £1.12 billion this year according to GlobalData. This occasion influenced the top-performing UK categories, which included:

Food and drink
Fashion
Pet and animal
Tools and DIY

Ecommerce Conditions Ideal for Outdoor and Lifestyle Categories

“May and June entered the record books as two of the hottest months seen across the UK and Europe. This, combined with Father’s Day trading, created ideal conditions for ecommerce growth,” commented Rory O’Connor, Founder and CEO of Scurri. “The uplift in outdoor, gifting and lifestyle categories shows how quickly consumer needs can shift and the importance of responding in real-time to capitalise on sales.”

International Markets See Strong Growth – Except the U.S.

While the UK saw steady growth, international shipping volumes were also strong:

Germany: +37% YOY
Poland: +28% YOY
Ireland: +21% YOY

In contrast, volumes to the United States fell by -17%, reflecting the impact of 10% tariffs introduced on UK goods early in the quarter (5 April 2025).

Delivery Options Evolve to Meet Changing Customer Demands

In Q2, ecommerce brands used delivery options as a key lever for customer satisfaction and brand trust:

Signature-on-delivery services saw a +21% QOQ increase and +28% YOY.
Next Day delivery was flat QOQ but up +29% YOY, with 98% of garden/outdoor orders using it.
Weekend delivery dropped -26% QOQ but rose +47% YOY.
Two-day delivery increased +19% QOQ, reflecting a demand for balance between speed and cost.

Sharing Data to Empower the Industry

O’Connor concluded:

“With Scurri Unpacked, we’re opening access to our delivery data and sharing valuable insights that not only empower customers but democratise those insights for the entire industry, helping inform strategy, improve performance and navigate ongoing and fast-paced change.”