Amazon.com has recorded sales of US$4.56bn in its international operations for the fourth quarter of 2009. The total represents an increase of 49% on its sales in 2008 in the UK, Germany, Japan, France and China.

Overall, Amazon’s net sales increased 42% to $9.52bn in the fourth quarter, compared with $6.70bn in fourth quarter 2008. Excluding the $354m favourable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, the retailer explains, net sales would have grown 37% when compared with the fourth quarter of 2008.

For the full year 2009, net sales grew 28% to $24.51bn and Zappos.com, acquired on 1 November 2009, contributed approximately $200m to the fourth quarter’s revenues.

Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2010, Amazon says it expects net sales to be between $6.45bn and $7bn, representing growth of between 32% and 43% when compared with the first quarter of 2009.

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