A-Cheng, who runs a home goods business, made his first fortune last year by testing the waters on Meikeduo with self-fulfillment. This year, he wants to scale up, but he’s stuck on one issue: the platform is aggressively promoting “semi-managed“ and ”fully managed” options, but he can’t tell the difference between the two models.

In March 2026, Meike Duo officially launched a dual-track model—semi-managed and fully managed—for Chinese sellers, covering five major markets: Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. The company also set a goal of “fiving GMV in three years.” This sends a clear signal to those looking to expand into Latin America.

This article clearly explains the benefits, target audiences, and selection criteria for semi-managed and fully managed services. Sellers planning to expand their operations in the Latin American market are encouraged to read it.

01

Why Introduce Custodial Services in 2026?

Mercado Libre is Latin America’s largest e-commerce platform, operating in 18 countries with over 283 million monthly active users. In Q4 2025, GMV reached $19.9 billion, a year-over-year increase of 37%, while cross-border sales surged 70% year-over-year; as of 2025, total sales by Chinese sellers grew 38% year-over-year, and the number of sellers generating sales in the tens of millions of dollars grew by over 80%.

However, the biggest challenges for Chinese sellers entering Latin America are difficulties with logistics fulfillment, complex customs clearance procedures, and high local compliance risks. Meikeduo positions itself as a “local infrastructure provider” and uses a managed service model to address the shortcomings of Chinese sellers—this is the platform’s core strategy for attracting merchants in 2026.

The 2026 Strategy Launch Event made it clear: The goal is to increase GMV fivefold over the next three years and to see a tenfold increase in the number of Chinese sellers successfully expanding into overseas markets. In other words, those who enter the market now will benefit from the platform’s growth phase.

02

How to Use Semi-Managed Services

Semi-Managed: Sellers prepare their inventory at the official warehouse in Shatian, Dongguan; the platform handles warehousing, sorting, international shipping, and last-mile delivery; sellers retain control over product selection, pricing, and operations. Key Benefits: Up to 50% commission reduction, 30 days of free storage upon warehousing, weighted traffic for the official “FULL” label, 3–5-day expedited last-mile delivery, and one-click shipping to 5 Latin American countries.

Target Audience: Established sellers with operational capabilities who want to build a brand. Sellers with an average annual turnover of over $300,000 per store are eligible for a commission reduction of up to 50%, offering both flexibility and efficiency. It’s like “you handle the business, and the platform handles the logistics.”

Semi-managed service is the primary strategy for most Chinese sellers in 2026—it allows them to enjoy the benefits of platform traffic and logistics without relinquishing operational control. For newcomers, it’s a prudent approach to start by self-fulfilling orders to test product performance and, once things are running smoothly, transition to semi-managed service.

If you’re facing a similar situation—wanting to set up a store on Meike Duo, debating between semi-managed and fully managed services, or concerned about your RFC tax ID and hosting rights—feel free to scan the QR code to contact Qicaiying’s online customer service (WeChat/Phone: 18620388671). We’ll help you plan your business model and obtain the necessary qualifications. Feel free to scan the QR code to contact Qicaiying’s online customer service (WeChat/Phone: 18620388671), and we’ll help you sort out this entire process from start to finish.

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03

How Does Full Management Work?

Fully Managed: 0% commission, 0 storage fees, 0 international shipping fees, 0 advertising fees; payment is received within 7 business days after the order is successfully delivered. The platform provides a dedicated traffic pool and official product selection. Sellers are only responsible for supplying the goods; everything else is handled by the platform.

Target Audience: Sellers with manufacturing operations and deep supply chains who are looking for a streamlined way to expand overseas. 2026“s fully managed service, with its promise of ”zero fees across the entire process,” is particularly appealing to small manufacturers lacking an operations team.

But keep this in mind: Full-service management means you’re essentially stepping back from day-to-day operations—pricing, product selection, and traffic all depend on the platform. This model is suitable for large manufacturers with deep supply chains looking to move high volumes and clear inventory, but it’s not suitable for sellers aiming to build brand equity.

04

Custody Is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card

Whether semi-managed or fully managed, an RFC tax ID remains a mandatory requirement. Starting in 2026, the Mexico marketplace will implement comprehensive withholding by the platform; for sellers who have not uploaded their RFC, a flat withholding of 361 TP3T will apply, while registered businesses will be subject to approximately 121 TP3T. In Brazil, mandatory account segregation will take effect starting in August, and sellers must link their local CPF or CNPJ. Hosting services address fulfillment but do not resolve tax obligations.

Another red line: a single entity may operate no more than five stores, and each store must maintain a clean environment; store closures due to affiliation issues are a hidden time bomb for the Latin American market. While the managed service model outsources logistics to the platform, sellers remain responsible for account compliance, tax compliance, and preventing affiliation issues.

Also, “managed service” does not mean you don’t have to select products. No matter how large the platform’s traffic pool is, low-quality SKUs won’t sell. The “Semi-Managed FULL” label refers to traffic weighting, not a traffic guarantee; your ability to select products and set prices still determines success or failure.

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05

How to Choose the Right Mode

First, consider the stage: Start with shipping and product testing → move to semi-managed scaling → transition to full management or brand certification once you have a robust supply chain. Don’t skip the product testing phase and jump straight into capital-intensive operations. Second, consider your capabilities: If you have an operations team, choose semi-managed services to retain control; if you’re sourcing directly from factories, opt for full management to streamline your global expansion.

Third, tax compliance upfront: Obtain your Mexican RFC and Brazilian CPF/CNPJ before opening a store; otherwise, the more you sell, the more tax will be withheld. Fourth, anti-affiliation measures: Limit a single entity to five stores or fewer, and ensure operational isolation; while third-party hosting saves on logistics, it does not eliminate compliance requirements.

In a nutshell: In 2026, Mercado Libre’s managed services will be your ticket to the blue ocean of Latin America, but semi-managed and fully managed services are two different paths—assess your own supply chain and operational capabilities before deciding how much control to hand over to the platform.

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