MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI), Latin America's largest e-commerce company, is expanding its free shipping policy in Brazil, its top market, to attract more buyers amid intensifying competition. The company announced that products priced at 19 reais ($3.40) or higher will now qualify for free shipping, a major drop from the previous threshold of 79 reais ($14.15).
With Brazil generating over half of MercadoLibre’s e-commerce revenue, the move aims to counter aggressive pricing strategies from competitors such as Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Sea Group’s Shopee, and newer entrants like Temu. Fernando Yunes, head of MercadoLibre's Brazil operations, said that nearly the entire site will now offer free shipping, although he declined to quantify the cost impact on the company.
To further enhance its competitiveness, MercadoLibre has also slashed logistics costs for sellers by up to 40% since late May. This strategic shift is designed to stimulate sales volume in price-sensitive categories where rivals, especially Shopee, are rapidly gaining market share.
Analysts from Itau BBA highlighted in a recent report that MercadoLibre’s increased shipping discounts specifically target product segments where Shopee has been expanding. The company appears willing to absorb higher shipping expenses in the short term in exchange for increased market dominance and customer loyalty.
By improving affordability and convenience for buyers while easing logistics expenses for sellers, MercadoLibre is positioning itself to solidify its leadership in Brazil’s fast-growing e-commerce landscape. The company’s aggressive approach underscores its commitment to staying ahead in a market where low prices and free shipping have become key competitive differentiators.


Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 



