State Post Bureau: China's express delivery development index in March was 410.9, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%.

On April 16th, the State Post Bureau released the China Express Development Index report for March 2026. According to calculations, the China Express Development Index for March 2026 was 410.9, an increase of 2.4% year-on-year. The development scale index was 608.2, up by 5.1% year-on-year; the service quality index was 503.9, basically unchanged from the same period last year; the development capacity index was 237.4, an increase of 3.2% year-on-year; and the development trend index was 60. In March, the industry made steady progress, continued to deepen intelligent empowerment, steadily improved basic capabilities, and effectively promoted innovative development in goods circulation, providing solid support for improving consumption quality and capacity expansion, as well as promoting industrial transformation and upgrading. In March, the development scale index was 608.2, an increase of 5.1% year-on-year. Looking at specific indicators, the estimated volume of express delivery businesses in March is expected to be around 17.3 billion pieces, with a 4% year-on-year increase in express delivery business revenue. In the first quarter, express delivery volume is expected to increase by 6% year-on-year, and express delivery revenue is expected to increase by 6.5% year-on-year. In March, both the scale and revenue of express delivery business grew steadily, with daily business volume exceeding 550 million pieces, making the industry more flexible and efficient in operation. In March, the service quality index was 503.9, basically unchanged from the same period last year. Looking at specific indicators, the public satisfaction rating for express delivery services is estimated to be 84.9 points, an increase of 0.2 points year-on-year. The on-time delivery rate in key areas is estimated to be 85.3%. The industry accelerated the application of new technologies and equipment, steadily improving the level of express delivery services. Firstly, in-depth application of technology intelligence. To ensure timely delivery of seasonal products such as spring tea, fruits, and flowers, express delivery companies actively deployed intelligent equipment such as unmanned vehicles and drones to reduce collection and delivery times. They also coordinated the integration of air, high-speed rail, and road transportation to enhance trunk line capacity, effectively shortening the time for Shenzhen Agricultural Power Group to deliver products to urban and overseas markets, helping to improve the quality and efficiency of local specialty agriculture and promote vigorous development. Express delivery companies equipped their employees with "AI smart assistants," applying large-model technology for the first time in frontline complex scenarios such as "lost item retrieval," moving from "assisting information retrieval" to a new stage of "supporting business decision-making." Secondly, innovative development of service models. Leveraging experience in cultural tourism and sports events services, express delivery companies teamed up with cultural tourism enterprises in Wanning to jointly promote a new model of "cultural tourism + logistics + surfing," customizing logistic solutions tailored for surfing scenes. They also collaborated with associations, companies, and tea farmers to create a four-in-one model of "logistics + e-commerce + cultural tourism + training" to help expand sales channels and unleash the consumption potential of spring tea. Focusing on the diversified and high-quality delivery service needs of college students and faculty, they collaborated with Nanjing University to establish a campus service ecosystem covering various scenarios such as life, study, and research to continuously enhance the service experience for faculty and students. Thirdly, continuous industry collaboration. Express delivery companies focused on the transportation needs of new energy batteries, creating integrated solutions to ensure safe and controllable transportation throughout the entire process. In March, the development capacity index was 237.4, up by 3.2% year-on-year. The industry accelerated the development of digital intelligence, improved the level of air cargo transportation support, and enhanced network operational efficiency. Firstly, the construction of intelligent facilities was accelerated. Express delivery companies opened intelligent sorting and storage facilities in cities such as Shantou, Xi'an, and Shanghai, laid out intelligent hub facilities in Guangzhou, Changzhou, and Ling Shui, and steadily improved automation and unmanned distribution and transfer efficiency. Secondly, air transportation capacity was steadily strengthened. The industry's self-owned airlines opened multiple international all-cargo routes such as "Ezhou-Derby" and "Boao-Ho Chi Minh City," with improved accessibility within the Asia-Europe network and further enhancement of cross-border air cargo support capabilities. Thirdly, the acceleration of cross-border express delivery. In Weihai, express delivery companies opened a "pre-inspection warehouse for cross-border e-commerce retail exports," significantly improving the efficiency of global top e-commerce logistics. In March, the development trend index was 60. In March, the industry's service capabilities strengthened, and network operations were orderly and effective. In April, with the intense listing of spring tea and seasonal fruits and vegetables, it is expected that the industry will continue to maintain steady growth. This article is selected from the official website of the State Post Bureau, edited by GMTEight: Jiang Yuanhua.