China logistics activities pick up in October

BEIJING -- China's logistics activities picked up their pace in October, according to industry data.

The logistics performance index for October came in at 54.2 percent, 0.4 percentage points higher than that in September, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion while a reading below reflects contraction.

The logistics sector has seen improved performance with increased employment and rebounded profitability, said He Hui, director of the China Logistics Information Center.

The new orders index rallied to 53.2 percent in October, up 0.2 percentage points from September, as market demand remained robust, enabling the sector to stay in the expansionary zone.

Meanwhile, the index for business activity expectations came in at 62 percent in October, up 1.1 percentage points from September.

The two indexes indicated the logistics sector will keep stable growth momentum while entering the seasonal peak shopping season driven by domestic and overseas holidays, such as China's Singles' Day online shopping festival, also known as the Double Eleven, and Christmas, the federation said.