China’s Postal and Express Delivery Sector Sees Steady Growth in First Half of 2026

According to official data released by China’s State Post Bureau on 17 July, China’s postal industry maintained stable operational growth across the first half of 2026, delivering robust business volume and revenue expansion amid steady domestic economic and consumption recovery.

In the first six months of the year, the total business revenue of the postal industry, excluding direct operating income from postal savings banking, reached 925.6 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 6 per cent. The express delivery sector contributed substantially to industrial growth, with cumulative business revenue hitting 771.41 billion yuan, up 7.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The total delivery volume of the postal industry stood at 108.89 billion pieces in the first half of 2026, representing a year-on-year rise of 4.2 per cent. Express delivery businesses recorded a total throughput of 100.38 billion pieces, growing 5.0 per cent year on year. The sector exceeded the 100-billion-piece milestone for annual express delivery volume by 30 June, achieving this scale nine days earlier than the full-cycle progress recorded in 2025.

The operational performance of the postal and express sector reflects stable expansion in China’s consumer market and consistent upward momentum in macroeconomic development. Industrial operational quality continues to improve, with refined market structure and balanced regional development supporting sustained industrial vitality.

Breakdown data shows clear structural differentiation across various delivery service categories. Intra-city express delivery volume totalled 7.22 billion pieces in the first half of the year, down 8.4 per cent year on year. Inter-city long-distance express delivery remained the core growth driver, with cumulative volume reaching 91.01 billion pieces, representing a 6.1 per cent year-on-year increase.

Traditional postal services also registered varied growth trends. Postal letter business volume reached 410 million pieces, rising 20.7 per cent year on year, while parcel delivery volume stood at 15.622 million pieces, with a year-on-year growth of 13.8 per cent. The diversified operational structure demonstrates the sector’s adaptive capacity to evolving market demand scenarios.

The postal and express delivery industry will continue to optimise service networks and operational efficiency for the remainder of 2026. Continuous upgrading of intelligent logistics systems and expanded service coverage will further underpin the circulation of domestic consumer goods and industrial supplies, sustaining stable industrial expansion throughout the second half of the year.