BEIJING: China’s courier sector has reached an unprecedented milestone, with the express delivery volume in 2024 exceeding 150 billion parcels for the first time, marking a significant achievement in the industry. This historic figure was recorded live on Sunday at the State Post Bureau (SPB) safety center, where the number “150,000,000,000” was prominently displayed on the China Express Delivery Big Data Platform.
According to Namibia Press Agency, this milestone comes a decade after China’s total parcel volume first crossed the 10-billion mark in 2014. The country’s express delivery sector has experienced remarkable growth, driven by a thriving courier market that remains vibrant and dynamic. The 150-billionth delivery, marked on Sunday, was a box of Huaniu apples from Tianshui city in Gansu province, sent to a customer in Chongqing, ordered just hours earlier on an e-commerce platform.
This growth is attributed to favorable policies that promote domestic consumption and expand demand. National initiative
s, including policies encouraging large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-in programs for consumer goods, have fostered a robust marketplace, particularly in underserved rural areas. Advances in logistics technology and infrastructure, such as investments in unmanned vehicles, drones, and automated sorting systems, have further enhanced network capacity and service quality.
Reflecting the immense demand, China now averages over 5,400 parcels per second, with daily peaks exceeding 729 million and monthly transaction volumes surpassing 13 billion, according to the latest SPB data. Express delivery has become an essential part of daily life in China, with the average citizen receiving more than 100 parcels annually. Customers can often expect same-day delivery for various items, from household essentials to large appliances.
The SPB notes that the expansion of express delivery services is not limited to urban centers. Regions in western and central China have recorded delivery volumes above the national avera
ge. Unique regional products, such as Xinjiang melon seeds and Tibetan yak meat, now reach a wide consumer network, linking rural producers with urban buyers and boosting rural economic growth.
This expansion of e-commerce and express delivery in central and western regions has played a vital role in strengthening local economies and fostering a more balanced national development model, as highlighted by the bureau.