Mercado Livre Opens a São Paulo Logistics Hub in August
Brazil · Business
Key Facts
—August Start Partial operations at the new São Bernardo do Campo facility begin this month, creating an initial 1,300 direct jobs and boosting local employment.
—Record Investment The center is part of an R$57 billion (approx. US$11 billion) 2026 Brazil investment, a 50% increase from the prior year, signaling strong long-term confidence.
—Massive Scale Mercado Livre will also occupy a 400,000 m² former Ford site in the same city by 2026, a project that could generate up to 10,000 positions.
—Network Expansion The company plans to open 14 new distribution centers across Brazil by December 2026, growing its logistics workforce from 49,800 to over 78,100 people.
—Investor Signal The aggressive build-out cements Mercado Livre’s dominance in Latin American e-commerce and directly challenges competitors like Shopee in critical markets.
Mercado Livre São Bernardo logistics center begins partial operations in August, marking a major step in the e-commerce leader’s aggressive Brazilian expansion.
Mercado Livre Launches São Bernardo Site
Latin American e-commerce leader Mercado Livre, headquartered in Argentina, is launching operations this August at its new logistics center in São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo’s ABC region. The facility, located on Avenida Getúlio Vargas, 1.457 in the Baeta Neves neighborhood, is the company’s latest move to strengthen its delivery network in its largest market.
The initial phase is expected to generate approximately 1,300 direct jobs. This new center is a precursor to an even larger project for the area, where Mercado Livre plans to occupy a massive 400,000 square meter structure that formerly belonged to Ford, with full occupation scheduled for the first half of 2026.
A Colossal Ford Site Redevelopment
The future São Bernardo site spans a colossal 400,000 square meters, a structure that once housed automotive operations for Ford. According to the Municipal Secretary of Economic Development, Labor and Youth, Rafael Demarchi, repurposing this industrial giant for e-commerce logistics could create up to 10,000 job positions.
The move transforms a landmark industrial property into a critical node for digital commerce. By combining the new August facility with the larger Ford site project, Mercado Livre is making São Bernardo a linchpin of its state-level distribution architecture.
Why This Matters for Brazil’s Economy
For residents and expats, the local job creation—starting with 1,300 immediate positions—provides a direct economic boost to Greater São Paulo. For investors, the project is a tangible piece of a record R$57 billion (about US$11.2 billion) investment pledged by Mercado Livre in Brazil for 2026, which represents a 50% jump compared to the previous year’s spend.
This capital injection arrives amid a fierce logistics race. Competitor Shopee recently inaugurated a highly automated São Bernardo center capable of processing 3.8 million orders daily. Mercado Livre’s heavy investment aims to solidify its market-leading position by delivering faster shipping, which is critical for retaining customers across Brazil’s vast geography.
Accelerating a National Fulfillment Network
The São Bernardo center is one piece of a nationwide blitz. Mercado Livre plans to open 14 new distribution centers across Brazil by December 2026, which would bring the company’s total fulfillment center count in the country to 42. The logistics workforce is set to surge from 49,800 to 78,100 employees by year-end to support these operations.
This hyper-growth builds on earlier waves of expansion that included fulfillment centers in Cajamar, Louveira, Lauro de Freitas, and Florianópolis, as well as recent logistics asset acquisitions from Loggi in Cajamar and São João de Meriti. The rapid build-out highlights a strategic shift to in-house fulfillment through its ‘Mercado Envios Full’ service to control the customer experience from click to doorstep.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When will Mercado Livre’s new São Bernardo logistics center start operating?
Partial operations at the new São Bernardo do Campo logistics center on Avenida Getúlio Vargas begin in August.
How many jobs will the Mercado Livre São Bernardo project create?
The initial center will create about 1,300 direct jobs. The larger former Ford site project, set for the first half of 2026, could generate up to 10,000 job positions.
How much is Mercado Livre investing in Brazil in 2026?
Mercado Livre announced a record investment of R$57 billion (about US$11.2 billion) in Brazil for 2026, a 50% increase from the previous year, heavily focused on logistics and new hires.
Sources: abcdoabc.com.br, Click Petróleo e Gás, UOL Economia, U.S. News, Brazil Business Insights
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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