China will replace Japan as the largest online shopping market in the Asia-Pacific region in 2010, with 480 million online buyers spending $1.4 trillion, a survey conducted by MasterCard claimed on Thursday.

The survey, which investigated e-commerce across the region, said by 2011, online shopping growth will be more than 23 percent a year, with the bulk of that coming from China and India.

"The rising population of upper-middle-income urban elites is likely to boost the online shopping markets in China and India significantly," the survey said.

"Domestic consumer spending in the two countries is poised to pick up strongly, underpinned by the rapid pace of urbanization, robust economic expansion and rising spending power."

By 2010, China's online shopping population is projected to rise to 480 million, accounting for more than 58 percent of the regional total, up from about 50 percent now.

Meanwhile, India's online shopping population is also poised to overtake Japan and South Korea, the survey said.

By 2010, China will also have the highest online shopping turnover - about $1.4 trillion - with India in the No 2 spot, it said.

Although China has one of the lowest Internet penetration rates, its online shopping penetration rate is about 70 percent, "indicating the online population has a high tendency to make online purchases", the survey said.

In terms of total revenue, online shoppers in the region spend an average of $612 per quarter, with Singaporeans and South Koreans the biggest spenders, it said.

Singaporean surfers spend an average of $770 and South Koreans about $707.

Also, a large majority of the region's shoppers, about 84 percent, plan their purchases and conduct research before parting with their money.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2008)