Mercado Libre deepened its weight in the Argentine economy in 2025, reaching transactions of USD 5.4 billion, an amount equivalent to 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the MELI Effect report, prepared by the company itself.
This data was presented during the Mercado Libre Experience, the company's annual event that brought together more than 11,000entrepreneurs and sellers.
The activity showcased the impact that the platform has beyond e-commerce operations, stemming from the integration of its digital payment, logistics, and financial services businesses.
Javier Milei and Marcos Galperin
This framework also had an impact on employment. According to the information presented by the company, the Mercado Libre ecosystem sustained 126,500 jobs between direct and indirect employment last year.
"The growth of our ecosystem translates into concrete opportunities for those who sell, buy, and work with Mercado Libre," stated Adrián Ecker, country manager of the company for Argentina, during the presentation of the Mercado Libre Experience.
E-commerce
In 2025, more than 3.5 million Argentine SMEs and entrepreneurs operated within the Mercado Libre ecosystem. Among them, nearly 42,000 started selling online for the first time.
The platform also played a relevant role as an entry point to e-commerce. For 67% of active sellers, Mercado Libre represented their first experience within this type of operation.
The territorial reach was another highlighted aspect. More than half of the SMEs selling their products through Mercado Libre managed to reach cities where they previously had no commercial presence over the last year.
Additionally, two out of three shipments crossed at least one provincial border, allowing markets from different regions of the country to connect through the platform.
Mercado Libre
Investments for 2026
The company has already defined its next stage of expansion in Argentina. For 2026, it announced an investment of USD 3.4 billion and the addition of 1,800 employees. With these new hires, Mercado Libre expects to reach a total workforce of 18,600 workers in the country.
At the same time, the company is preparing changes to shipping conditions for Meli+ users. Starting next Monday, program subscribers will have free shipping on purchases from $15,000, down from the previous minimum of $33,000.
This measure aims to encourage purchases of products with a lower average ticket, especially in categories such as food, cleaning products, and toiletries, where the logistical cost has a greater weight on the purchasing decision.
The change is also part of the strategy to strengthen sales in the interior of the country, where the impact of shipping costs on the final price becomes more significant.
At the same time, Mercado Libre aims to expand the user base of Meli+. As Ecker explained, the company's expectation is to double the number of subscribers over the next 12 months.
