Products

EMARKETER delivers leading-edge research to clients in a variety of forms, including full-length reports and data visualizations to equip you with actionable takeaways for better business decisions.
PRO+
New data sets, deeper insights, and flexible data visualizations.
Learn More
Reports
In-depth analysis, benchmarks and shorter spotlights on digital trends.
Learn More
Forecasts
Interactive projections with 10k+ metrics on market trends, & consumer behavior.
Learn More
Charts
Proprietary data and over 3,000 third-party sources about the most important topics.
Learn More
Industry KPIs
Industry benchmarks for the most important KPIs in digital marketing, advertising, retail and ecommerce.
Learn More
Briefings
Client-only email newsletters with analysis and takeaways from the daily news.
Learn More
Analyst Access Program
Exclusive time with the thought leaders who craft our research.
Learn More

About EMARKETER

Our goal is to unlock digital opportunities for our clients with the world’s most trusted forecasts, analysis, and benchmarks. Spanning five core coverage areas and dozens of industries, our research on digital transformation is exhaustive.
Our Story
Learn more about our mission and how EMARKETER came to be.
Learn More
Methodology
Rigorous proprietary data vetting strips biases and produces superior insights.
Learn More
Our People
Take a look into our corporate culture and view our open roles.
Join the Team
Contact Us
Speak to a member of our team to learn more about EMARKETER.
Contact Us
Newsroom
See our latest press releases, news articles or download our press kit.
Learn More
Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities
Reach an engaged audience of decision-makers.
Learn More
Events
Browse our upcoming and past events, recent podcasts, and other featured resources.
Learn More
Podcasts
Tune in to EMARKETER's daily, weekly, and monthly podcasts.
Learn More

Latin America Ecommerce Forecast 2021

What Lies Ahead for the World’s Fastest-Growing Retail Ecommerce Region

Download
Share
About This Report
This report explores the pandemic’s impact on total retail, ecommerce, and mcommerce sales in Latin America, with breakouts for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. It also examines key drivers fueling regional market movements in 2021 and beyond.
Table of Contents

Executive Summary

While 2020 will go down in history as one of the most tumultuous years for Latin America’s retail industry, it will also be remembered as the year when the region became the world's fastest-growing retail ecommerce market.

How did the coronavirus pandemic impact total retail sales in Latin America?

Physical store closures, coupled with government-mandated lockdowns, hurt retailers’ bottom lines last year. This year, retail sales will return to growth in each of the countries we forecast.

Why was 2020 a watershed year for retail ecommerce in Latin America?

Until the pandemic, retail ecommerce was still in the early stages of consumer adoption. But in 2020, as retailers and consumers quickly pivoted toward ecommerce, sales soared 63.3% and surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time.

How much are consumers in Latin America prioritizing mcommerce?

From 2016 to 2019, mobile’s share of retail ecommerce sales in Latin America nearly doubled from 20.9% to 40.2%. This year, we forecast that nearly half (48.8%) of retail ecommerce sales will take place on mobile devices.

How did the pandemic accelerate digital buyer growth in Latin America?

2020 was a record-setting year for digital buyer growth in the region. We forecast that 38.0 million consumers in Latin America were first-time digital buyers in 2020. This year, total digital buyers will rise to 248.7 million, or nearly half the region’s population ages 14 and older.

WHAT’S IN THIS REPORT? This report features our latest forecasts for total retail, ecommerce, and mcommerce sales in Latin America, with breakouts for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. It also examines key drivers fueling regional market movements in 2021 and beyond.

KEY STAT: Retail ecommerce sales in Latin America grew 63.3% in 2020 to $104.60 billion. This was five times greater than the 12.5% growth we estimated in our pre-pandemic November 2019 forecast and more than triple the 19.4% estimated growth in our May 2020 forecast.

Here’s what’s in the full report

3files

Exportable files for easy reading, analysis and sharing.

41charts

Reliable data in simple displays for presentations and quick decision making.

Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Total Retail, Ecommerce, and Mcommerce Sales
  3. Digital, Social, and Cross-Border Buyers in Latin America
  1. Key Takeaways
  2. Read Next
  3. Listen Next
  1. Sources
  2. Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

authors

Matteo Ceurvels

Contributors

Oscar Bruce Jr.
Senior Forecasting Analyst
Zach Goldner
Junior Forecasting Analyst
Cindy Liu
Senior Forecasting Analyst
Peter Vahle
Forecasting Analyst
Debra Aho Williamson
Principal Analyst
Already have a subscription?Sign In

Access All Charts and Data

Gain access to reliable data presented in clear and intelligible displays for quick understanding and decision making on the most important topics related to your industry

Become a Client