The rapid growth of e-commerce in Mexico continues to test the country’s logistical capacity, especially during periods of high demand such as Hot Sale and the 2026 World Cup , which this year coincide with other commercial and holiday campaigns.
According to Antonio Torres, CEO of Lievant , the national logistics infrastructure is still not progressing at the same pace as e-commerce, which maintains growth rates close to 20% annually.
“The logistics infrastructure is definitely not keeping pace with the growth of e-commerce , and it’s unlikely to ever do so. We’ve been growing at rates of 20% and above for several years now, and this year it’s estimated that we’ll be close to 20% again. So, there’s simply no infrastructure that can keep up,” he stated.
According to the executive, during Hot Sale days, last mile orders increase between 40% and 50% per day compared to a normal month, a situation that generates saturation in both fulfillment centers and delivery networks.
As a result, major marketplaces have had to extend their delivery times.
“Amazon and Mercado Libre typically double their delivery times during this season. That slightly affects user satisfaction,” he commented.
Unlike previous years, Torres pointed out that in 2026 the Hot Sale promotions are combined with the World Cup, the commercial campaigns of self-service and department stores, as well as purchases related to Father’s Day.
“We recommend that our customers view it all as one big season that could last until the end of June,” he said.
While it anticipates a moderation in order volume after the Hot Sale (which ended on June 2), it believes that demand will remain high for several weeks due to the interest generated by the World Cup.
The last mile presents the greatest challenges
For Lievant, the most pressured link in the logistics chain remains the last mile, which currently represents about 50% of the total cost of delivering a product to the end consumer.
“When you have an event like Hot Sale, there isn’t enough transportation, independent delivery drivers, and logistics companies to deliver that last mile,” he explained.
He also noted that the costs of this stage have increased by about 15% in the last 12 months due to the increase in fuel, wages and other operating factors.
“These costs have ended up being absorbed by the business, in the best-case scenario, or in the worst-case scenario the end consumer ends up paying an extra fee for the delivery of their product,” he added.
Given this scenario, the CEO of Lievant recommended that companies rely on specialized logistics centers and take advantage of the fulfillment infrastructure of large marketplaces for high-turnover products.
However, he acknowledged that keeping delivery promises has become increasingly difficult.
“I can tell you openly that it is very complicated because the logistics infrastructure of even the largest marketplaces is not keeping pace with the growth of e-commerce ,” he said.
Despite this, he considered that during promotional seasons Mexican consumers prioritize other factors over delivery speed .
“If you were to ask me what the first obstacle is for a user to buy from your online store, today it won’t be the delivery time, but the promotion you have,” he explained.
Reverse logistics also increases the pressure
Another effect of peak demand is the increase in returns and refunds.
According to Torres, in categories such as fashion, returns usually represent between 8% and 15% of sales, a percentage that can increase to 50% during high-demand campaigns.
“Reverse logistics costs three times more than initial logistics,” he warned.
Therefore, he recommended that companies consider a significant increase in these costs in their financial planning.
Domestic challenges are compounded by those related to cross-border e-commerce.
Torres indicated that during 2025 more than 30% of e-commerce sales in Mexico came from cross-border operations , mainly from China and the United States.
“When you’re talking about 30% of the product sold coming from abroad, then you have a very significant challenge at the customs level,” he stressed.
However, he explained that regulatory changes and new tariffs have begun to modify this dynamic, gradually favoring a greater share of domestic trade.
Automation advances
Regarding technological adoption, the executive acknowledged progress in automation within Mexican logistics centers , although he considered that the pace is still lower than that observed in the United States.
“Automation will help you with errors and will help you reduce costs. It’s just that in Mexico it’s a little slower,” he commented.
He attributed this difference to the lower labor costs that still exist in the country, which reduces the economic urgency to replace manual processes.
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