Australia's card acquiring market to grow 5.5% in 2025

This marks a slower pace of expansion compared to previous years.

Australia’s card acquiring market is expected to grow by 5.5% to reach $713.4b 2025, but this marks a slower pace of expansion compared to previous years as global economic uncertainty—partly stemming from recent US tariffs—casts a shadow over growth prospects, according to GlobalData.

Data from GlobalData’s Merchant Acquiring Analytics show that card acquiring value in Australia rose by 7.5% in 2024, driven by rising consumer spending and a continued shift toward cashless transactions. 

However, the momentum is expected to ease in 2025 as broader economic pressures weigh on consumer activity and payment industry dynamics.

Domestic transactions dominate Australia’s acquiring space, accounting for over 97% of the total acquiring transaction value, supported by widespread card acceptance infrastructure, nearly universal banking access, and a growing e-commerce sector. 

The number of POS terminals in Australia reached 40,055 per one million inhabitants in 2025, up from 36,012 in 2020. 

In 2024, debit cards made up 59% of the domestic card acquiring value, while credit and charge cards represented 75.3% of foreign card acquiring value, reflecting high usage of foreign-issued cards for purchases in Australia.

Major banks including Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, and National Australia Bank held around 60% of the acquiring market in 2024. 

GlobalData forecasts the market to grow at a 5% compound annual growth rate, reaching $866.7b by 2029, driven by sustained demand for digital payments and wider merchant adoption.