As international e-commerce expands, it’s crucial to understand that some target markets are more appealing than others. When a global e-retailer creates its marketing strategy for South America, one country stands out for potential profits: Brazil. Forrester Research shows that Brazil is the largest e-commerce market in Latin America by a significant amount. Mainly fueled by everyday consumers, Brazil is expected to reach $12 billion USD in online sales this year. Signs suggest that this promising market could offer even greater profits for online businesses in the future.

What’s so hot about Brazil? Besides its Rio Carnival, Amazon rainforest, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Brazil boasts these sizzling economic indicators:

  • Brazil is the world’s sixth largest economy and the largest country in South America.
  • More than half of Brazil’s metropolitan online shoppers have a monthly disposable income that’s equivalent to $2,000 USD, and even consumers with a lower disposable income still shop online frequently, according to Forrester Research.
  • This year, Brazil’s e-commerce industry will grow by 21.9 percent, according to eMarketer.
  • eMarketer also predicts that 2012 will see 23.2 million people – 34 percent of the country’s Internet users – buying goods online.
  • Brazil has passed the early adopter stage in which e-commerce is dominated by books and media, consumer electronics, and computer hardware.

As Brazil’s interest in e-commerce grows, shoppers are expanding their online buying habits. This presents a chance for retailers to reach new customers in the country through effective language translation for e-commerce websites. Companies that can adapt and customize their messages for Brazilian audiences are more likely to create lasting brand loyalty.

Brazil’s market is booming, and overseas exporters can participate if they coordinate their marketing, translation and localization efforts and establish international search engine marketing (ISEM) strategies before they build Brazil-facing websites. Brazil is already speaking the language of e-commerce. If international brands show as much aptitude for Brazil’s language and culture, there should be a lot of e-commerce success stories coming out of South America’s largest nation.