Tech Roundup: Asian giants invade Brazilian e-commerce

This week: Brazil’s e-commerce sector is now filled with Asian players. One Brazilian startup wants to bring the church into the 21st century. The arrival of a Russian edtech proves sector growth in the country.

The Asian invasion in Brazilian e-commerce

For many years, Brazilian e-commerce players lived in fear that Asian giants would harbor local shores. For a long time, these concerns never materialized, but the pandemic — and the e-commerce boom it ensued in Brazil — have changed matters.

Trends. China’s AliExpress and Singapore’s Shopee quietly arrived in Brazil ten and two years ago, respectively. But now they are making considerable noise.

• Brazil is now among AliExpress’s top 5 markets around the world, according to the Beyond Borders 2020 report. And Shopee has become one of the most-downloaded apps in the country, per App Annie.

Why it matters. Asian players are looking to claim a larger chunk of Brazil’s e-commerce market, worth between BRL 87.4 and 171 billion, according to different estimates.

Biding their time. First, major Asian e-commerce firms sought to conquer their own domestic markets, before gaining influence around the continent. Once established, the next step has been to expand into other emerging markets around the world, with Brazil one of the most attractive.

Pandemic. Coronavirus restrictions led Brazilians to spend a lot more time on social media, which boosted so-called “social commerce,” which involves the promotion of e-commerce...