蘑菇AV

Mercado Libre鈥檚 retail business is thriving: Advertising revenues rose 50% YoY in Q1, and there鈥檚 ample room for growth.

Although no single player rivals Mercado Libre鈥檚 hold on Latin America鈥檚 ecommerce market, nearly 70% of online sales are still fair game for the long tail of retailers.

Many retailers in Latin America like Mercado Libre, Rappi, and even Walmart function not only as commerce players, but as financial institutions as well. As a result, commerce media in Latin America is charting a different course than it has in the US, one that could result in unique opportunities for companies with access not only to shopper habits, but to financial data as well.

Multi-industry players have the power to redefine the future of commerce media advertising. Unlike in the US, where retailers and FIs typically operate independently, many Latin American retailers act as financial services providers鈥攐ffering credit lines, digital wallets, and other banking products to unbanked and underbanked consumers.

Digital ad spend in Latin America is set to reach 56.4% of total ad spend in 2025, per 蘑菇AV鈥檚 forecast. As the region鈥檚 digital landscape matures, media quality, and performance are becoming top priorities for advertisers.

Mercado Libre will grow its headcount by 33% this year to solidify Latin America ecommerce dominance: The company looks to strengthen its business in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina鈥攊ts three largest markets.

Latin America鈥檚 commerce media ecosystem is rapidly evolving. Financial, travel, and other nonretail players are now looking to monetize their own first-party data鈥攆ollowing the path retailers have already paved.

Over a third of adults in the region don鈥檛 have a bank account. Only the Middle East and Africa has a larger proportion of unbanked consumers, per 2021 World Bank data analyzed by BCG. And the unbanked population is unevenly distributed: Just 59% of low-income consumers and 40% of rural inhabitants in Latin America have access to a banking account, per a January 2023 Mastercard and Americas Market Intelligence (AMI) survey.

Constellation Brands imports all of its beer from Mexico: That puts the Modelo parent in a challenging position in wake of US tariffs on imported canned beer and empty aluminum cans.

Trump鈥檚 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� tariffs landed harder than expected. Uncertainty remains, given the pause on reciprocal tariffs for countries willing to negotiate with the US鈥攁long with an escalating trade war with China. Which markets will take the greatest hits? And how might our US forecasts change?

The retail outlook for 2025 is worse than previously anticipated. However, many smaller emerging markets are still in line for strong years, and ecommerce continues to claw share from traditional retail.

Tariff escalation reshapes Latin America trade: New duties disrupt retail margins, inventory flows, and regional growth forecasts.

The Latin American consumer banking market is vast, yet over 40% of consumers are currently underbanked. Foreign banks looking to enter the market can tap this audience, but they should learn from and partner with local fintechs to do so.

TikTok Shop expands in Europe as US fate remains uncertain: Launch in France, Germany, and Italy underscores push for growth amid pressure to boost sales.

Walmart will invest $6 billion in Mexico this year: The move could protect it from growing anti-American sentiment.