China targets 270 billion express delivery parcels by 2030

China aims to increase its annual express delivery volume to 270 billion parcels by 2030 as part of a new five-year plan to expand capacity, improve rural services, and accelerate the intelligent and green transformation of the postal sector, according to the State Post Bureau of China on Wednesday.

The postal industry development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) was jointly issued by the State Post Bureau, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Transport, the bureau announced at a news conference.

By 2030, the postal sector is expected to generate 2.4 trillion yuan ($354.6 billion) in annual business revenue and handle 290 billion postal and express delivery items. Express delivery revenue is projected to reach 2 trillion yuan, with annual parcel volume rising to 270 billion.

These targets build on the rapid expansion of the world's largest express delivery market. In 2025, China's express delivery companies handled 198.95 billion parcels, up 13.6 percent year-on-year, and generated 1.5 trillion yuan in revenue, an increase of 6.5 percent, according to the State Post Bureau.

Hu Kai, spokesman for the State Post Bureau and head of its department of policies and regulations, stated that the sector is expected to play a stronger role in supporting economic and social development by 2030. Service capacity and quality will continue to improve, and the delivery network will become more integrated and intelligent, with stronger innovation and more targeted and efficient governance, Hu said.

The plan emphasizes strengthening rural delivery services. By 2030, at least 90 percent of China's administrative villages will receive mail five or more times a week, and 90 percent will have local service stations handling postal, express delivery, and logistics services.

The plan also aims to ensure that 88 percent of express parcels in key regions are delivered within 72 hours and to extend China's international express delivery network to 110 countries and regions.

The State Post Bureau will focus on accelerating the use of new technologies, issuing guidelines on accelerating technological development in the sector, and implementing the "AI Plus Postal and Express Delivery" initiative. The measures encourage delivery companies to deploy unmanned delivery vehicles according to local conditions for mail and parcel transportation.

The application of new technologies has supported greater automation, digitalization, and intelligent upgrading across the sector, improving delivery services and promoting higher-quality development, Hu said.

During the 2026-30 period, the bureau will further implement an innovation-driven development strategy, strengthen research centers focusing on artificial intelligence, and work with relevant government departments to improve related policies, regulations, and technical standards.

It will also promote the regulated use of unmanned delivery vehicles according to local conditions while balancing development and safety, with the aim of fostering new quality productive forces in the sector.

The plan calls for wider use of automation and environmentally friendly packaging. By 2030, the full automation rate at major processing centers is expected to reach 88 percent, while express delivery companies are expected to use green packaging for 80 percent of parcels.