Growth rate of more than 30%, 127 international freight routes… Looking at the dynamic China from economic data
In a recent interview, we delved into the latest economic data from China, unveiling a dynamic market environment. Statistics from the China General Business Association indicate that the retail prosperity index for October has reached 51.4%, reflecting an increase of 0.8 percentage points from the previous month. This marks the second consecutive month of notable growth. When we break it down by sector, the goods trade index saw a month-over-month rise of 0.7 percentage points, while the leasing business index experienced a remarkable boost of 3.3 percentage points. These numbers suggest that recent government policies have successfully spurred domestic consumption and enhanced consumer confidence, resulting in a significant uptick in profit expectations among retail companies.
Shifting our focus to the e-commerce sector, the China Logistics and Purchasing Federation has reported a modest recovery in the e-commerce logistics index, which climbed to 114.4 points in September—up by 0.2 points from August. This increase signifies an ongoing release of consumer potential and a rise in online shopping activities. The overall business volume index for e-commerce logistics in September tallied at 131.2 points, marking a 0.7-point increase from the previous month, while the rural e-commerce logistics index grew to 129.4 points, up by 0.5 points. Notably, demand within the e-commerce logistics market has maintained a growth rate exceeding 30% since the second half of the year, indicating consistent market progress.
We had the opportunity to speak with Zhou Jianqin, Director of the Logistics Management Department at Beijing Jiaotong University. He remarked, “Leading logistics companies are harnessing digital and informational tools to offer integrated services to their customers. The role of logistics in facilitating consumption release is becoming increasingly important.”
On the topic of international logistics expansion, the China Logistics and Purchasing Federation’s air logistics branch reported that by September 30, a total of 127 new international cargo routes had been established, with more than 370 round-trip flights added weekly. In September alone, 20 new international air freight routes were initiated, generating over 60 additional flights every week. Among these, Asia saw the majority of new openings with 65 routes, followed by Europe with 39 routes. The primary exports through these routes include cross-border e-commerce goods, fresh produce, electronics, and auto parts.
Finally, during the recent National Day holiday, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported a significant surge in online traffic. On average, daily interprovincial roaming users reached 266 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 5.6%. Furthermore, the number of daily incoming roaming users from international regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, reached 6.96 million, up by 20.7%. Additionally, daily data usage for 5G and 4G networks experienced a year-over-year increase of 13%.
