The National Economic Prosecutor’s Office (FNE) has released its preliminary report on Market Study No. 10, providing a comprehensive analysis of the e-commerce sector in Chile between 2019 and 2024. The study highlights that online commerce has undergone a structural transformation, moving beyond a temporary pandemic boost to become a pillar of the national economy. By 2025, online sales reached approximately $10 billion, accounting for nearly 2.9% of Chile’s nominal GDP, with 75% of consumers reporting at least one digital purchase during the year.
The FNE’s diagnosis indicates that while the market currently functions competitively and remains open to new players, it is characterized by a concentrated structure dominated by a few major hybrid platforms. These entities act as both direct retailers and intermediaries for third-party sellers. The report notes that these sellers are often highly dependent on a single platform, frequently generating over 50% of their total revenue through one specific marketplace. This dependency creates a significant power imbalance that the FNE believes requires closer monitoring.
Specific technical mechanisms were scrutinized, including the “buy box”—the highlighted space that grants maximum visibility to a product—and the role of Key Account Managers (KAMs). While the FNE did not find evidence of current anticompetitive practices, such as personalized pricing algorithms, it identified potential risks regarding price parity. In one instance, Mercado Libre removed a clause during the study that allowed for sanctions against sellers who offered lower prices on other channels, a practice the company claimed was never actually enforced in Chile.
To mitigate future risks of transparency and potential abuse, the FNE has issued a series of recommendations for platforms with annual sales exceeding approximately $4.5 million. These include mandates for clear and understandable contractual language, a minimum 15-day notice for changes to terms and conditions, and detailed descriptions of how product rankings are determined. The preliminary report is open for public comment until June 2026, aiming to ensure that the digital marketplace remains fair for both small sellers and the growing population of online consumers.
