According to the Financial APP, the State Post Bureau announced on October 17 that the Chinese express development index in September 2024 was 442.5, up by 9% year-on-year. The development scale index, service quality index, development capacity index, and development trend index were 539.3, 688.1, 224.4, and 69.7 respectively, with year-on-year increases of 24.2%, 2.2%, 0.4%, and 3.9%. In September, the express delivery market had strong development momentum, with steady and orderly scale expansion, deep integration of the industry, and growing cross-border service capabilities.

In September, the express development scale index was 539.3, up by 24.2% year-on-year. Looking at the specific indicators, it is expected that the business volume of express delivery in September will increase by about 18.5% year-on-year, and business revenue will increase by about 13%. In the first three quarters, the express delivery market maintained a rapid growth momentum, with business volume exceeding 120 billion pieces and business revenue exceeding trillions of yuan.

First, the development momentum is becoming stronger. Excluding the impact of the Spring Festival, the industry's monthly business volume growth rate has remained at around 20% year-on-year. Since May, the monthly express business volume has consistently exceeded 14 billion pieces, with a peak daily volume of over 0.58 billion pieces, highlighting its increasing role in promoting consumption, aiding production, and facilitating circulation. During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (September 15-17), the industry received 1.307 billion express packages, a 35.4% increase from the daily average during last year's Mid-Autumn Festival; delivered 1.407 billion express packages, a 45.7% year-on-year increase, effectively meeting the holiday market's delivery demand and enhancing peak operational capabilities.

Second, regional development is becoming more balanced. In the first three quarters, the business volume growth rates in the central and western regions are expected to exceed 30% and 35% respectively, far surpassing the national average growth rate, with an increased share of express business volume. Since April, express delivery companies have been enhancing their delivery services in Xinjiang and increasing transport capacity to remote areas like Tibet, driving rapid growth in express business volume in the northwest and southwest regions, with business volume growth rates in provinces such as Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Guizhou expected to be over 45% year-on-year.

Third, new consumption models provide strong support. In the first three quarters, new models such as live streaming and short video sales have rapidly developed, leading to the continuous expansion of the express delivery market. Guided by policies promoting the exchange of old products for new ones, smart home appliances and green electronics are becoming new online delivery hotspots. Seasonal fresh products, fitness and health products, festive items, and flowers and plants have seen an increase in delivery volume. Express delivery companies are actively contributing to the sustained development of new consumption trends.

In September, the express service quality index was 688.1, a 2.2% year-on-year increase. Looking at the specific indicators, the public satisfaction rating with express services is expected to be 83.8 points, up by 0.6 points year-on-year. The key area's 72-hour delivery success rate is expected to be 83.1%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points year-on-year. In the first three quarters, the industry's service levels have steadily improved, enhancing consumers' delivery experience.

First, it is more convenient to serve specific groups. Express companies strengthen cooperation with universities to establish on-campus service sites, providing 'one-stop' mailing services for more efficient delivery services, assisting university students to easily leave and return to campus. Express companies actively explore smart medical services, carry out multiple product mailings such as medical records, pharmaceuticals, testing samples, medical devices, etc., comprehensively use drones, unmanned vehicles, intelligent cabinets, and other smart devices to help hospitals achieve drug traceability, full visibility of logistics, customized cold chain transportation, and unmanned facilities and equipment.

Second, it is more comprehensive to serve modern agriculture. Express companies promote cold chain services to reach the fields, optimize through temperature control technology, innovate packaging materials, explore operating data, invest in the 'land-sea-air' transportation matrix, comprehensively enhance delivery efficiency and service quality, help flowers, Chinese mitten crabs, traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and other characteristic agricultural products realize direct sourcing and delivery from the source, and assist in creating local geographical indication agricultural product brands.

Third, it is more in-depth to serve the manufacturing industry. Express companies deeply cultivate integrated supply chain services, continuously extend the service chain, and enrich the warehouse and distribution service system. In the field of 3C brand new product releases, express companies ensure rapid response and safe delivery of new products through precise data prediction, digital supply chain management, customized reinforced packaging, and a service model of 'distributed warehousing + direct delivery + highly efficient pre-positioning'. In the footwear and apparel sector, express companies actively establish industry-specific warehouses, provide businesses with integrated services for forward and reverse value addition, warehouse quality inspection, printing, ironing, and other semi-processing services, improve inventory and order management timeliness through digital management systems, and support manufacturing enterprises in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

In September, the express development capability index was 224.4, a year-on-year increase of 0.4%. In the first three quarters, the industry's development capability steadily increased.

First, the basic production capacity continues to strengthen. Express companies upgrade Harbin's distribution center to increase the efficiency of transfers in the Northeast region. Successively put into operation the Hefei auto parts distribution center, Zhangshan printing consumables professional warehouse, Wuhan pharmaceutical and medical instrument professional warehouse, and Jiamen pet food three-dimensional warehouse, providing more professional warehouse and distribution services for companies in multiple fields. Operating the Henan Dengzhou Smart Logistics Port, Suzhou Taihu Intelligent Industrial Park, Jinnan (Shahe) and Quanzhou Innovation Park facilities to promote the convergence of regional commercial flow, logistics, fund flow, and other resources, helping local industries innovate and develop.

Second, comprehensive capacity continues to rise. In terms of aviation, the industry's self-owned airlines open international cargo routes such as 'Hangzhou=Astana=Budapest' and 'Guangzhou=Delhi', launch the 'Xi'an=Liege' charter cargo route, and strengthen the radiation capabilities in Europe, South Asia, and other regions. In terms of land transportation, express companies strengthen cooperation with local transportation companies to promote new delivery models like 'subway + express' and 'bus + express' in many places, facilitating cost reduction and efficiency improvement in city-wide deliveries. In unmanned transportation, express companies add take-off and landing sites in Shenzhen, open the 'Shenzhen=Dongguan' drone route, create a 'low-altitude unmanned drone + ground station + underground unmanned vehicle + metro' low-altitude to air rail transport network, explore new low-altitude delivery models in Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Suzhou and other places, build a low-altitude logistics smart community in Shaanxi, continuously explore new low-altitude economic scenarios. Express companies optimize unmanned vehicle capacity management platforms, promote the updating and iteration of unmanned vehicles towards large capacity and long endurance, and conduct regular unmanned vehicle deliveries in locations like Dongying in Shandong, Jiaozhou, and Baoji in Shaanxi, promoting the convenient and intelligent development of urban delivery.

Third, cross-border services are optimized and improved. On one hand, express companies upgrade international delivery efficiency, simplify cross-border service processes, launch standard products for overseas warehouses, provide overseas door-to-door collection services, effectively guarantee cross-border delivery demands during festivals like Mid-Autumn Festival and Black Friday. On the other hand, express companies completed the first national clearance of fresh fruits under the '1210 Bonded E-commerce' model in Shanghai, promoting the efficiency of cross-border logistics and the visibility of import routes, laying the foundation for the large-scale development of cross-border e-commerce fruit imports.

In September, the trend index was 69.7%, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%. Express companies accelerate the application of new technologies and models, steadily improve peak season guarantee levels, provide strong support for expanding new development spaces and unleashing new consumer capabilities, and it is expected that the industry will maintain a steady growth trend in the fourth quarter.

This article is selected from the State Post Bureau, edited by Chen Wenfang at China Transport Finance.