The highest sales volume per capita in Latam, a huge rate of banking penetration, stable economic scenario: Chile highlights the immense potential of the region’s smaller markets.
Number 5 among Latin America’s Six Main Markets, Chile showcases the potential of the region’s smaller markets, with the highest sales volume per capita in the whole of Latam. Chile’s growing e-commerce volume, both for domestic and cross-border e-commerce, is boosted by the country’s impressive banking penetration rates.
Based upon data from PagSeguro’s Digital Renaissance in Latin America white paper, keep reading and understand the fast-changing market of Chile:
A blooming online sales market
Accounting for 6% of all e-commerce in Latin America, Chile has the highest sales volume per capita in Latin America, showing the potential of the region’s smallest populations. In 2021, the country had a total of $ 15.6 billion in e-commerce sales, meaning $ 812 in annual online purchases per capita.
In comparison, in Latam’s biggest markets — Brazil and Mexico —, online sales volume per capita is $ 717 and $ 373, respectively. And with its 10 million e-shoppers (65% e-commerce penetration), Chile sure has a lot of potential for even more growth.
After all, the country has the highest GDP in Latin America, and an e-commerce market that’s expected to reach $ 32 billion by 2025. Chile also has an expressive penetration of cross-border sales, which represent 22% of all e-commerce in 2022, expected to rise to 26% by 2025.
The fast-changing payment landscape in Chile
With Chile's high — and growing — banking penetration rates, the country is undergoing a major rise of bank transfers for online purchases, which boosts local payment methods. They represent 10% of e-commerce in 2020, but will scale to 21% by 2025, with a 55% annual growth rate.
With 82% of Chileans owning a bank account and debit card, this is one of the highest-banked markets in Latin America. This is due in part to state-owned BancoEstado’s Tarjeta RUT, a debit card and account available to any Chilean with a national identification number.
Consequently, the country’s payment landscape also has a huge share of credit and debit card usage for e-commerce (78%) — and nearly all credit cards and debit cards are internationally enabled, making Chile an even more attractive market for cross-border merchants.
When talking about local payment methods, e-wallets lead the way, with 7% of the total volume, especially from MercadoPago and MACH.
Besides, the country’s high GDP and stable economic scenario make Chileans not as used to paying in installments, another difference in comparison to other Latin American markets: 25% of the card volume is paid in installments.
Chile is a market full of potential for merchants that understand the country and its consumers — as we’ve shown, local payment methods are fundamental, as well as having the expertise to navigate the challenges and make the most of Chile’s economic scenario.
Thus, counting on the right partner for your Chile strategies is essential to succeed. To know more about how we can help, click below to talk to our specialists:
