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Argentina’s E‑Commerce Grows by Volume as Real Prices Decline

Tiendanube data show more orders and units sold in the first half of 2026, a shift that is forcing merchants to cut margins and change tactics to stay competitive.

Overview

  • Tiendanube’s first-half 2026 report found platform-wide revenue rose 42.1% to ARS 1.22 trillion while orders increased 21.6% and units sold climbed 31.9%, but average ticket and nominal revenue grew less than inflation.
  • Looking only at sellers that were already active a year earlier, orders grew 8.9% and revenue 26.9%, which confirms that growth is coming from selling more items rather than higher prices.
  • Low-cost import platforms such as Shein and Temu are pressuring local prices and hitting categories like clothing hardest because buyers now compare overseas offers before buying.
  • To compete, merchants are absorbing costs through promotions and free shipping, changing payment mixes toward transfers and wallets, reducing long installment plans, and subsidizing over one million shipments in the semester.
  • Results vary by region and category: Mendoza rose to the fifth-largest e-commerce market after a 38% sales increase, toys and home goods led order growth, and about one in four paid Tiendanube stores now uses AI tools to automate sales and customer service, a change that could lower labor needs and speed buying decisions.