E-commerce in Latin America - statistics & facts
The ascendance of the digital sector of economies like Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Colombia underscores a narrative of accelerated growth and burgeoning potential in the region. In this dynamic landscape, Brazil and Mexico are vying for the lead, each accounting for over 25 percent of the Latin American e-commerce market. While the e-commerce revenue of the region still trails behind that of Asia or Europe, Latin America boasts a formidable cohort of nearly 380 million digital shoppers. In 2026, retail e-commerce sales in the region were estimated at roughly 142 billion U.S. dollars.
A marketplace giant and its closest rival
Mercado Libre has been a pivotal force in shaping Latin America's e-commerce landscape. Originating from Argentina, the company has maintained a dominant presence in the region despite increasing competition. The U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon has shown commitment to capturing a larger market share in the region by enhancing its logistical infrastructure in key markets like Brazil and Mexico. In Mexico, Amazon narrowly surpassed Mercado Libre as the leading e-retailer by net sales in 2025, while in Brazil, Mercado Libre remained the most visited e-commerce platform by a wide margin. Still, none have matched Mercado Libre's revenue generation, which surpassed 8.8 billion U.S. dollars in a single quarter in early 2026. Mercado Libre continues to lead among Latin American-born e-commerce companies, showcasing a robust business model and widespread consumer reach.
Fashion leads online and phones drive traffic
Among the product categories driving revenue in the region, fashion emerged as the top performer in 2026, followed by electronics and food. One of the driving factors behind this surge in e-commerce activity is the widespread adoption of mobile phones, which have played a pivotal role in democratizing internet and, consequently, digital shopping. Regarding retail web visits and orders, smartphones were the preferred choice among Latin American online consumers. In the first quarter of 2025, these devices accounted for 83 percent of e-commerce site traffic and facilitated almost three-quarters of online retail transactions.
The region's e-commerce penetration rate was approaching 68 percent in 2026, and year-over-year growth in online sales across key markets like Mexico and Argentina continued to outpace more mature economies. As the region continues to develop and mature, it is likely to assume a progressively influential role in the global e-commerce arena.
