Argentine retail and e-commerce trends

The Argentine retail landscape is experiencing a shift in consumer behavior, characterized by a recovery in physical shopping centers and significant growth in digital commerce.

In mid-2026, the Argentine Chamber of Shopping Centers noted a gradual recovery in mall sales due to stabilizing inflation and new brand arrivals. However, the sector expressed concern regarding competition from international e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, prompting calls for tax cuts and regulatory simplification to sustain investment.

By the end of the first half of the year, data from the Argentine Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CACE) confirmed a 28% increase in e-commerce turnover, reaching nearly 20 billion pesos. This growth was driven by a 21% rise in purchase orders, with food, beverages, and large appliances leading revenue categories. To manage varying purchasing power, financing through installment plans has become a critical tool, with 60% of surveyed companies offering such options.

Recent data from Politikon Chaco, based on INDEC figures, reveals that supermarket sales in the first half of 2026 were 9.2% below the historical average for the 2017-2025 period. This contraction impacted 22 of the 24 subnational jurisdictions, with the most severe declines in Formosa (-35.9%), Tucumán (-33%), and Corrientes (-32.8%). While Neuquén and Río Negro showed positive growth due to the oil and mining sectors, national supermarket billing saw a 3.1% year-on-year real decrease in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.