Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest e-commerce platform, opened its first distribution center in Tijuana on May 12. Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda presided over the inauguration of the 16,000-square-meter facility, which will enable same-day delivery across the state’s three largest cities: Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada.
The Tijuana distribution center can store up to 234,000 packages and process more than 2,150 per hour. It operates under Mercado Libre’s MetroFulfillment model, a compact, high-efficiency system designed to place products closer to consumers and cut delivery times dramatically.
Same-Day Delivery Across Baja California
Until now, Mercado Libre orders shipped to Baja California often took several days to arrive from distribution hubs elsewhere in Mexico. The new center changes that equation. Shoppers in Tijuana, Mexicali (roughly 120 miles east), and Ensenada (about 70 miles south) can now receive eligible orders the same day they are placed.
Omar Ramírez, senior director of logistics for Mercado Libre México, said Tijuana’s commercial ecosystem and available local talent made it an ideal location for the facility. The center will also create jobs tied to the growth of e-commerce in the region.
Part of a National Logistics Network
The Tijuana center joins Mercado Libre’s national logistics network, which now includes 16 distribution centers and 80 service centers across Mexico. The company currently offers same-day delivery in 37 Mexican cities. Adding Baja California’s major municipalities to that list is a significant expansion into the northwest border region.
For small and medium-sized businesses that sell on Mercado Libre, the local distribution center opens access to the platform’s fulfillment network. Sellers can store inventory at the Tijuana facility, potentially reducing shipping costs and speeding up delivery to customers across Mexico.
What It Means for Online Shopping in BC
Mercado Libre is Mexico’s dominant online marketplace, handling everything from electronics and clothing to groceries and auto parts. Faster local fulfillment could reduce the need for cross-border shopping trips that many Baja California residents rely on for goods not easily found or quickly shipped domestically.
The inauguration was first reported by Punto Norte and confirmed by multiple Baja California outlets including Tijuana en Línea and Infobaja.