The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) released data on the 6th showing that the China e-commerce logistics index for March 2023 was 108.3 points, 1.1 points higher than the previous month. 9 sub-indices, except for the staff index fell, the total business volume index, rural business volume index, actual load rate index, performance rate index, cost index, inventory turnover index, logistics time efficiency index and satisfaction rate index have risen.

As China's domestic economy accelerated its recovery, e-commerce logistics operations in March were consistent with expectations in February, maintaining a continuous upward trend, with supply and demand steadily picking up on both ends. The total index improved by 1.1 points in March and has rebounded to over 108 points, close to its 2022 high of 108.9 points. The demand side continued its strong recovery, with total e-commerce logistics business volume and rural e-commerce business volume in all regions improving and the rural e-commerce business volume index doubling this month compared to the previous month. On the supply side, all sub-indices continued to pick up, except for the personnel index, which fell after a sharp rise last month, with the live load factor index already exceeding 2019 levels. In the future, in the case of increasing economic recovery, the momentum of growth of the indices on the demand side will be expected to continue to maintain, and the indices on the supply side also have more room for growth, and the e-commerce logistics index is expected to show a rebound and stabilisation in April.

The total business volume of e-commerce logistics continues to rise. 116.6 points in March, up 1.7 points from the previous month. By region, all regions of the country continue to rebound in e-commerce business volume, the central region has the largest increase, the eastern and central regions are higher than the national average.

In March, the rural e-commerce logistics business volume index was 118.7 points, an increase of 4.4 points over the previous month. By region, the volume of rural e-commerce business grew in all regions of the country, with the largest increase in the eastern region, and above the national average.

In March, the supply-side sub-indices continued their overall upward trend. The actual load factor index, inventory turnover index, logistics timeliness index and satisfaction rate index continued to rise, but at a narrower rate than in the previous month, with the actual load factor index continuing to reach a new high since last year. The performance rate index increased by 0.4 points from last month, while the staffing index fell slightly by 0.9 points this month after hitting a three-year high in February. The Cost Index, driven by factors such as staff wages and rising fuel prices, rose sharply by 2.6 points in March, continuing to reach a new high since the index was released.