State Post Bureau: The development index of China's express delivery industry in December 2025 is 466.8.

On January 19, the State Post Bureau released the China Express Development Index Report for December 2025. According to calculations, the China Express Development Index for December 2025 was 466.8. The development scale index, service quality index, development capacity index, and development trend index were 631.6, 650.8, 253.1, and 61.7 respectively. In December, the industry operated smoothly and safely, service quality continued to improve, the basic network steadily expanded, and the overall business scale and revenue reached a new high for the year. In December, the development scale index was 631.6. Driven by major consumption promotions such as "Double 12" and "Black Friday," the size of the express delivery market remained stable, with an estimated business volume of around 18 billion items. Firstly, supporting the release of consumer vitality. In response to the new characteristics of long-term and multiple peak promotions in e-commerce, express delivery companies strengthened resource allocation, optimized capacity deployment, and effectively ensured the smooth operation during peak seasons. Actively serving the "ice and snow economy," deeply cultivating fields such as culture and tourism, events, and agricultural products, effectively meeting new consumption demands, and providing strong support for another record high in online consumption. Secondly, promoting balanced development between regions and urban-rural areas. The industry continued to enhance service capabilities in central and western regions, enrich service scenarios, improve service systems, and steadily increase the proportion of business volume in central and western regions. Focusing on serving county-level commercial systems, expanding network coverage, promoting balanced development between urban and rural areas, and providing support for accelerating the release of consumption potential in sinking markets. In December, the service quality index was 650.8. Looking at specific indicators, the public satisfaction with express services is expected to be 85 points, an increase of 0.6 points compared to the previous year. The on-time delivery rate within 72 hours in key areas is expected to be 86.6%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points. In December, the industry actively improved service experiences and promoted quality and efficiency. Firstly, expanding comprehensive transportation networks. Express delivery companies leveraged network coverage and digital service advantages to promote the synergy between "delivery networks and high-speed rail networks," expanding the coverage of "high-speed rail express" services. Focusing on the delivery demands of fresh products, collecting points were established in production areas, and by implementing intermodal transportation involving "high-speed rail, air transport, and cold chain road transport," expanding all-cargo airline routes, effectively addressing pain points such as the difficulty of transporting and preserving agricultural products. Secondly, upgrading service for enhanced experiences. Express delivery companies piloted "extreme cold protection" services in Heilongjiang to address frost damage issues faced by products like alcohol, fresh products, and cosmetics. Through custom-made insulated vehicles, equipping professional cold chain vehicles, and setting up temporary warming sheds for transit, a "warm defense line" was built for product delivery. To improve the quality of high-efficiency products, a "compensation for exceeding time limit" service was introduced to provide customers with more reliable delivery guarantees. Thirdly, empowering technology for improved quality and efficiency. Express delivery companies actively expanded smart delivery scenarios, increased the coverage of unmanned vehicles and intelligent express lockers to enhance end-to-end delivery experiences. In Jinan's central business district, a smart logistics delivery network was piloted using drones, unmanned vehicles, and building automation, innovating low-altitude logistics applications, significantly reducing end-to-end delivery times, and improving service certainty. The establishment of a regular low-altitude drone logistics route between Haikou and Xuwenshun, constructing an "intra-city + inter-provincial" air-ground interconnection system, promoting the transformation of cross-strait trade and logistics in the Qiongzhou Strait to the "minute-level" era. In December, the express delivery development capacity index was 253.1. In December, the industry's development foundation was further solidified, and its guaranteeing capacity steadily strengthened. On the one hand, the basic network continued to improve. The completion of the main body of the Changde Intelligent Transfer Center, the operation of specialized facilities such as the Inner Mongolia Central Shared Pre-positioned Warehouse and the Shenzhen Intelligent Warehousing Center, accelerating the construction of transfer and distribution facilities, and the basic network becoming increasingly sound. On the other hand, air transport capabilities were enhanced. The industry's self-owned airlines added international all-cargo routes such as "Guangzhou to Lige" and "Chongqing to Yangon," constantly increasing the trans-Eurasian cross-border air network. One self-owned airline obtained International Air Transport Association "airline + apron" double certification, elevating its pharmaceutical cold chain transport capabilities to an international advanced level. The professional air cargo hub, Jiaxing Nanhu Airport, officially began operations, enhancing air cargo support and rapid distribution capabilities in the Yangtze River Delta region. In December, the development trend index was 61.7. In December, the role of the express delivery industry in promoting economic circulation, expanding services to increase domestic demand, and enhancing people's well-being became increasingly prominent. In 2026, with the strong promotion of the consumption revitalization special action, the industry will continue to maintain a good trend of steady progress, promoting qualitative and effective improvements and reasonable growth in quantity. This article is adapted from the official website of the State Post Bureau, GMTEight editor: Feng Qiuyi.