Introduction to Mercado Libre and the New Distribution Center
Mercado Libre, a leading technology company in e-commerce and financial services across Latin America since its founding in 1999, is expanding its logistics network with a new distribution center (Cedis) in Escobedo, Nuevo León (NL). The company has announced an investment of over 180 million dollars in this state-of-the-art facility, which will be the largest in northern Mexico and span 100,000 square meters within the Areya Escobedo Industrial Park.
Key Players and Collaboration
During a meeting with Eduardo Navarro, Operations Manager for Mercado Libre in Monterrey, NL, and representatives from the construction companies, Escobedo’s Mayor Andrés Mijes supervised the project’s progress. This collaboration is part of Mercado Libre’s strategy to strengthen its logistics network and align with the Plan México initiated by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Job Creation and Economic Impact
The construction of the new Cedis is expected to generate 1,500 jobs during the building phase and add another 2,000 direct positions upon completion, as estimated by the Escobedo municipality.
- Question: How many jobs will be created during construction?
- Answer: 1,500 jobs will be generated during the construction phase.
- Question: How many direct jobs will be available once the Cedis is completed?
- Answer: An additional 2,000 direct jobs will be available upon the Cedis’s completion.
Efficient Logistics and Service Improvement
According to Eduardo Navarro, the new distribution center in Escobedo is crucial for enhancing Mercado Libre’s logistics efficiency. Omar Ramírez, Senior Director of Operations for Mercado Libre, highlighted the investment’s significance during a February 2025 announcement: “This over 180 million dollar investment will result in a new CEDIS as part of our country expansion.”
The new center aims to provide a more efficient service for customers, with Mercado Libre’s logistics penetration in Mexico surpassing 75% for the first time, driven by new installations that expanded available capacity for sellers. This resulted in increased same-day and next-day delivery proportions during Q2 2025, following a slight decline in Q1 2025.
Streamlined Processes in Escobedo
Cristóbal Ruelas, Industrial Director of Areya, praised Escobedo’s unique approach to business processes: “Escobedo is the only municipality where we haven’t encountered any issues with permits. We were pleasantly surprised to find their online processes, which no other municipality offers. This has expedited our ability to obtain necessary permits online, allowing us to start construction immediately without delays.”
Mercado Libre’s Performance in Mexico
Mercado Libre has demonstrated strong performance in Mexico, with a 36% annual sales growth in Q2 2025, described as “the fastest pace in nearly two years” by the company’s report. The continuous investment in logistics has yielded positive results, with logistics service penetration exceeding 75% for the first time.
Mercado Libre’s Operations in Mexico
Currently, Mercado Libre operates 11 distribution centers and fulfillment centers across Mexico, including locations in the State of Mexico, Yucatán, Jalisco, and Apodaca, Nuevo León.
