Latin America

The Americanas scandal of accounting inconsistencies, which emerged at the start of 2023, undoubtedly caused a certain amount of noise in Brazilian retail; felt in both offline and online sales, both of which saw a slowing of growth in 2023. However,…

Following robust double-digit value growth over much of the review period, a trend already emerging prior to the pandemic, e-commerce sales in Chile started to stabilise in 2022 in line with greater mobility outside of the home, although they…

In 2023, retail e-commerce in Colombia recorded further strong despite the government eliminating the VAT-free day. Growth was, however, slower in the year due to a retailer-driven shift to physical stores. This shift was supported by sale events,…

While e-commerce sales saw significant growth in 2021, in 2022, growth was boosted even further, with strong double-digit value retail growth recorded. Online sales are well developed in Costa Rica in regional terms but remain immature in global…

While higher retail prices and lower spending power led to more conscious consumption in 2022, special promotional days provided a welcome boost to value sales throughout the year. Black Friday hosted between the 24 and 27th of November was such an…

Historically, online spending by Ecuadorians has been primarily focused on services and entertainment. However, consumption patterns in this area changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people increasingly choosing to purchase…

Prior to 2020, e-commerce in Guatemala had been experiencing steady growth over the years, but adoption rates remained relatively low. However, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in e-commerce sales, particularly among more affluent consumers…

Retail e-commerce in Mexico demonstrated outstanding double-digit current value growth over the review period, and 2023 was no exception, with growth across most categories. Indeed, the growth rate experienced by e-commerce in Mexico was amongst the…

In 2023, rising inflation, combined with political uncertainty and economic recession has curbed retail e-commerce sales in Peru to some extent. However, this channel is still in developing in Peru, with retail e-commerce accounting for only…

The make-up of e-commerce in Uruguay and the current retail environment has resulted in third party merchants holding considerable value share in the channel. Beyond those third party merchants, grocery retailers have a strong share. Henderson &…

In 2023, current value sales in retail in Argentina experienced triple-digit growth, although this was primarily driven by very high inflation, which remained a chronic issue. Inflation reached a triple-digit rate during 2023 and the country…

The country continued to emerge out of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2022. With the relaxation of restrictions on movement and socialisation, shoppers returned to physical stores, driving the ongoing recovery of sales in categories that were…

Despite multiple challenges in 2023, retail in Brazil maintained current value growth. 2023 began with the return of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as President of the Republic of Brazil and, shortly thereafter, the attacks of 8 January occurred, with…

A slow year in 2023 was a significant challenge for retail in Chile. Elevated inflation and steady price rises continued to impact the retail industry, leading to a steep drop in demand from consumers, who looked to postpone purchases as much as…

The Colombian economy began to recover in the second half of 2021, and growth reached 7.5% by the end of 2022, fuelled by fiscal stimulus, increased oil prices and a boost in food and beverages exports, which registered a 24% increase. However,…

Retailing in Costa Rica was challenged in 2022, with rising inflation and price hikes impacting consumer buying habits. In addition, high levels of unemployment in the country continued to impact household budgets, shaping purchasing decisions. This…

Consumers were impacted by high inflation and rising prices in 2022 and increasingly opted to reduce their spending or seek out promotional deals to budget effectively. Dominicans sought out retailers and channels that offered the greatest return on…

Retail in Ecuador posted strong growth in current value terms in 2022, building on the strong recovery posted the previous year. With COVID-19 fears subsiding and most of the remaining restrictions being lifted locals and foreign visitors were more…

In 2022 retail in El Salvador rebounded. Stronger macroeconomic indicators and a full return to pre-pandemic lifestyles boosted consumer demand, especially among wealthier shoppers. However, high inflation, widespread informal retailing and a…

The retail sector in Guatemala continued to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, although at a slower pace than in 2021. Despite this, it still grew at a rate higher than inflation. The buoyancy of the retail sector was largely driven by…

Retailing in Honduras continued to recover in 2022 in the wake of the pandemic. The industry proved highly resilient despite inflation and high levels of poverty in the country. Modern grocery retailers continued to make inroads due to their…

After a challenging 2022 due to high inflation, retail sales in Mexico saw healthy growth for a third consecutive year in current value terms in 2023, confirming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far behind. In fact, based on the Consumer…

Retailing rebounded strongly in 2022 in a continuation of the previous year. The reopening of society and the resumption of pre-pandemic lifestyles were enabled by the rollout of vaccines and the waning of the virus, all of which reduced fears of…

Retailing in Paraguay maintained its bounce back in 2022 from the previous year after the market declined in 2020 due to the global pandemic. The full removal of COVID-19 restrictions and the rollout of vaccines facilitated a greater degree of…

Retail in Peru has experienced a sustained increase in prices since 2021, but the situation has worsened in recent years with inflation soaring and remaining high in 2023. Although local brands are well established in Peru, many of the final products…

The digital revolution has been rewiring retail for years, leading to new business models, commerce ecosystems and channels for reaching and engaging consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition, as e-commerce became the default…

The digital revolution has been rewiring retail for years. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition as e-commerce became the default setting for many homebound consumers. The crisis-inspired surge in e-commerce is leading to a permanent…

Inflation and ongoing price increases significantly impacted the retail industry in 2022. High price rises led to changing consumer behaviours, with a drop in demand as many were looking to delay significant purchases, reducing and adapting their…

In 2023, value sales of retail tissue rose notably, although this growth was primarily driven by price increases. The trend of companies calling back employees to the office, albeit in hybrid working schemes, has had a noticeable impact on…

Retail tissue registered healthy current value and volume growth in 2023, with facial tissues, and in particular pocket handkerchief, registering the highest current value growth. With that being said, toilet paper remains the largest product area in…

In 2023, retail tissue saw dynamic retail volume and current value growth in Brazil. In the tumultuous landscape of this year, the category witnessed profound consolidation, marking a pivotal moment in its evolution. Preceded by years of economic…

The demand for retail tissue remained at healthy levels despite a marginal decline in 2023, while double-digit current value growth was driven by rising unit prices. Therefore, higher prices forced some local consumers to prioritise their retail…

In 2023, retail tissue in Colombia recorded positive, double-digit retail value growth, bolstered by rising inflation and ongoing price hikes. However, retail volume growth for toilet paper remained low, despite players reducing the meters and weight…

In 2023, retail tissue in Costa Rica recorded positive retail value growth. Due to rising prices, consumers were increasingly seeking savings without compromising the quality of their retail tissue products. Consumers in Costa Rica expect a certain…

In 2023, toilet paper in the Dominican Republic recorded positive retail value growth, boosted by rising price points. The higher cost of living has impacted consumers, with price increases noted across essential and daily products. Toilet paper was…

In 2023, retail tissue in Ecuador experienced greater price stability, while supply chains improved following challenges faced by the industry in 2022. This factor benefited sales, leading to positive retail value growth. Although a significant…

Retail tissue in Guatemala registered healthy volume growth, though constant value growth was more modest, as continuing rising prices cut into profitability. Consumers were highly price sensitive, though also looked for quality. Charmin touted its…

In 2022, retail tissue faced significant challenges due to high inflation, supply chain disruptions, and rising raw materials costs, particularly cellulose and paper pulp. These factors contributed to a substantial increase in retail current value…

In 2023, retail tissue in Peru recorded positive retail value growth, while retail volume sales were low, challenged by rising prices. In line with inflation and the decline in disposable incomes, consumers have reduced their spending, while…

In 2023, retail tissue in Uruguay witnessed further decline in volume sales, with paper towels and toilet paper both affected. These two segments accounted for almost 90% of all retail tissue sales by value. Small-scale smuggling has negatively…

The rice sector in Argentina is witnessing a significant downturn in 2023, following a period of relatively robust performance the previous year. The previous boost in volume sales, facilitated by government-imposed price controls in 2022 that kept…

Rice is expected to register positive current value and volume growth in 2023. Rice is an important staple in the Bolivian diet, having one of the highest consumption rate in the region. However, it was protected from global inflationary pressure, as…

The price of rice, pasta, and noodles in Brazil over 2022 was mainly impacted by worldwide production challenges, international trade, freight constraints and local macroeconomic outcomes. The cost-of-living crisis as a result of inflation placed…

Retail volume sales of rice continue to be impacted by the enduring ramifications of inflation in Chile. As a staple food for a substantial portion of the world's population, rice holds a critical position in diets and culinary traditions. However,…

Dried pasta and rice are staple products on Colombian tables, offering versatility for various meals and affordability. While they are not the same type of food, both are commonly consumed either on their own or paired with vegetables, meat, or a…

Tariffs on imported rice were reduced by 33% in 2023 leading to a significant rise in imports. In six months, imports of rice pellets (unpeeled rice that is processed) grew by 477%. The main importing companies are Inter-Global (Walmart's logistics…

The price increase in the rise, pasta and noodles category has not been as sharp as in other staple foods categories, therefore volume growth has remained steady throughout 2023. Rice and pasta, being low-cost products, have benefited from…

Rice is a staple food in Ecuadorian households and is pivotal in local economies. Weather conditions in Ecuador have a significant impact on rice production, influencing both yields and market dynamics. A particularly potent winter season,…