China's express delivery industry has marked a significant milestone in the first quarter of 2024, handling over 50 billion parcels by April 29. This impressive figure surpasses the previous year's performance by achieving the same volume 32 days ahead of schedule, according to data released by the State Post Bureau (SPB).
Rural areas have become a major hub for express packages, with over 100 million deliveries passing through these regions daily. The central and western parts of the country have seen a particularly strong surge in business volume, highlighting the expanding reach of delivery services beyond urban centers.
Driving this growth is the sector's ongoing intelligent transformation. Major courier firms are investing in the intellectual reconstruction of large-scale distribution centers and rapidly adopting technologies such as unmanned warehouses, autonomous vehicles, and delivery drones. These advancements are streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency across the board.
The Express Delivery Development Index reached 329.6 in the first two months of 2024, reflecting a 26.7% increase compared to the same period last year. Breaking down the sub-indices:
- Development Scale: Up by 29.8% year-on-year to 407.1, fueled in part by heightened delivery demands during the Spring Festival holiday.
- Service Quality: Experienced a remarkable 39.4% growth from the previous year, indicating significant improvements in customer experience.
- Development Capacity: Increased by 7.1% year-on-year, showcasing the industry's ability to scale operations effectively.
These indices are compiled based on comprehensive data from major logistics firms operating within the sector, providing a clear snapshot of the dynamic business activities and emerging trends shaping China's courier landscape.
Reference(s):
China's express delivery sector handles 50 billion parcels in 2024 Q1
cgtn.com
