SHANGHAI: China’s parcel delivery sector aims to handle a record 14.25 billion consignments this year, says a senior official with the national agency governing the industry.
In 2023, the sector made remarkable achievements, with the estimated number of parcels handled totalling 13.2 billion, up 19.5% year-on-year, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau of China, said at the sector’s annual conference in Beijing.
The conference outlined the sector’s development strategy, goals and work priorities for 2024.
Zhao said the country’s parcel delivery network and logistics system will be further improved, highlighting the construction of major infrastructure facilities and enhanced cargo transportation capabilities for air and road.
The use of high-speed railways for parcel delivery and the promotion of multi-mode transportation will be encouraged, he said.
The network and service quality in rural areas will also be improved, with the establishment of charitable posts at parcel delivery stations and the utilisation of scheduled passenger buses to solve the “last kilometre problem” in rural areas, he added.
Zhao said that another major goal for the parcel delivery sector this year was green development.
Parcel delivery companies will be encouraged to introduce more new energy vehicles, he said.
Over the past decade, China’s parcel delivery sector has experienced rapid development, handling more than 120 billion packages in 2022, a 10-fold increase since 2013.
“Last year, the parcel delivery sector improved its ability to ensure smooth circulation, boosted the efficiency and capability to handle parcels and enhanced the development of intelligent delivery,” Zhao added.
To improve logistics efficiency, dedicated freight airports and air hubs were constructed and put into operation last year.
For instance, the dedicated cargo airport in Ezhou, Hubei province, mainly invested in by SF Express, is now fully operational. — China Daily/ANN