From a $13 million loss to a $11 million profit—the profit wasn't driven by price increases

Naspers released its annual report on June 29, 2026 (for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026). The key figures for the Takealot Group are as follows:

• Revenue $1 billion(In local currency terms: +181 TP3T)
• GMV $2 billion(+14%)
• Adjusted EBIT was [amount] compared to the previous year'sA loss of $13 million turned into a profit of $11 million
• aEBITDA $78 million(+86%)

Breaking it down: Takealot.com reported revenue of $906 million, GMV up 151% year-over-year, and order volume up 181% year-over-year; Mr. D reported revenue of $138 million (up 181% year-over-year).

It is worth noting that the GMV growth rate (14%) is lower than the revenue growth rate (18%) and also lower than the order growth rate (18%). This indicates thatAverage order value is declining, but the platform has offset the loss in profit through order volume and monetization efficiency.. For sellers, this sends a clear message: in the future, making money on Takealot will depend not on high markups, but onTurnover Rate and Fulfillment CostsThe

The Real Turning Point: Fulfillment Services Became the Engine of Growth

The most noteworthy item in the financial report isTFS (Takealot Fulfilment Solutions) reported a 93.51% year-over-year increase in revenue.. More importantly, Naspers announced that it will spin off TFS as a standalone revenue-generating business in fiscal year 2027 and open its warehousing and distribution network to merchants outside South Africa.

This means that Takealot is transforming itself from ”an e-commerce platform” into ”a fulfillment infrastructure company.” The share of revenue derived from logistics and warehousing will continue to rise within the platform’s revenue structure.

Another piece of data is TakealotMORE contributed 27% in GMV to the platform. The repeat purchases and concentration driven by the membership system have further reinforced the logic that ”whoever is closest to the warehouse, ships the fastest, and captures the traffic.”

The market is still rising, but the rules for traffic allocation have changed.

According to World Wide Worx’s “2026 South Africa Online Retail Report,” online retail in South Africa is projected to 159 billion rand (approximately $9.9 billion), up 22.51% year-over-year, accounting for of total retail salesFirst Breakthrough of 10%The

The distribution of platform usage is as follows:

1. Takealot 35.3%
2. Shein 21.5%
3. Checkers Sixty60 15%
4. Amazonian 12.7%

Takealot remains the top local destination, but Shein’s market share indicates that demand for low-cost direct shipping remains strong. The platform’s response is not to compete on price, but rather toUse the fulfillment experience and membership program to keep high-value orders within your own ecosystemThe

According to industry sources, Takealot is tightening its cross-border direct shipping policies and prioritizing local stores and the FBT (fulfilled by the platform) model. Local stores receive a search ranking boost, with payment cycles of approximately T+3 to T+7, while cross-border stores have cycles of approximately T+15 to T+30; New cross-border sellers are required to register a South African legal entity within 12 months. The above information is subject to the platform’s official announcements, but the general direction is already quite clear.

Four Recommendations for Sellers

• Treat fulfillment costs as a key metric: FBT's warehousing and distribution costs should be calculated on a per-item basis, rather than roughly estimated based on gross margin; days in inventory are more important than gross margin percentage points.
• Prioritize the expansion of local stores: The combined effect of search weighting and a T+3 to T+7 payment cycle often improves cash flow more than a few percentage points in commission differences.
• Plan Ahead for the Main Part of Your South Africa Trip: If cross-border stores do indeed have a 12-month localization grace period, the timelines for company registration, tax ID, and bank account setup need to be scheduled in reverse.
• Learn About NRCS Certification: Starting in February 2026, South Africa will require mandatory NRCS certification for electronic products; non-compliant items will be removed from shelves. According to industry sources, approximately 30% sellers will be affected and forced to exit the market (proportion to be verified). This should be checked during the product selection phase.

Localization is not optional

As Takealot’s path to profitability illustrates, competition in South Africa’s e-commerce sector has shifted from ”who can find the cheapest traffic” to ”who can deliver goods to buyers reliably and at low cost.” For Chinese sellers, the early phase of testing the waters through cross-border direct shipping is coming to an end,Local Company, Local Warehouse, Local Tax IDThis constitutes a new ticket to entry.

It is important to note that the opening up of TFS means the barriers to accessing warehousing and fulfillment capabilities are lowering; sellers may not necessarily need to build their own warehouses, butA local entity must be present to sign the contract, issue invoices, and fulfill tax obligations.. This is precisely the aspect that Chinese sellers are most likely to underestimate.

Qicaiying offers services including South African company registration, VAT and income tax registration, bank account setup, and access to local warehousing resources. The specific service package will be tailored based on the seller’s product category, order volume, and cash flow cycle.