Mercado Livre plans to invest R$57 billion in Brazil in 2026, its main market. The value represents an increase of 50% compared to the R$38 billion invested in the previous year and a relevant jump compared to the R$2 billion invested in 2019.
The resources, which include investments and operational expenses, will be allocated mainly to expanding the logistics network, strengthening the marketplace operation and advancing Mercado Pago.
As part of the plan, the company plans to open 14 new distribution centers using the fulfillment model, increasing the network to 42 units in the country, which represents a 50% growth in the number of this type of DCs.
According to the company’s executive vice-president of Commerce in Latin America and leader of the Brazilian operation, Fernando Yunes, the increase in contributions follows the company’s growth rate in the country and the still high potential for expansion of e-commerce.
“Penetration is still around 16% to 17%, well below other markets, and we see a very large potential for growth”, he stated in an interview with BroadcastGrupo Estado’s real-time news system.
In this context, logistics expansion appears as one of the main pillars of the plan, focusing on expanding capacity in existing units and opening operations in new regions.
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The executive also stated that the sector’s advancement depends on improving the consumer experience and expanding categories that are still little digitalized, such as food and beverages, in addition to growing the supply of credit. “It is a combination of more assortment, better experience and faster logistics that should drive the migration of consumption from offline to online,” he said.
In the financial arm, Mercado Pago should continue to be one of the main investment fronts, focusing on expanding credit for consumers and small and medium-sized companies.
For Yunes, there is relevant space to expand the concession for both individuals and sellers on the platform, based on the history of transactions within the ecosystem.
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The executive stated that credit models are more mature and use behavior and sales data to calibrate risk, which allows the offer to be expanded in a safer way.
He also added that the offer of credit has a direct effect on sales, by expanding consumption capacity at checkout and supporting the growth of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs within the marketplace.
Brazil remains the company’s main market, responsible for around 52% of total revenue, which explains the concentration of investments in the country. “This level of investment shows how much we believe in the future of Brazil and in the growth of e-commerce and financial services”, he said.
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Furthermore, Mercado Livre works as a driver for 5.8 million small and medium-sized companies in the country. In 2024, these businesses generated R$381 billion through the company’s ecosystem, a value equivalent to 3.2% of the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
