Q1 2025 Freight Market Overview: Trends and Outlook
In Q1 2025, the freight market remains stable yet tense, prompting shippers to adjust their strategies to cope with future fluctuations in prices and capacity.
In Q1 2025, the freight market remains stable yet tense, prompting shippers to adjust their strategies to cope with future fluctuations in prices and capacity.
The East-West Shipping Network Initiative aims to enhance the reliability and efficiency of global trade transportation by reducing the number of ports along major shipping routes, optimizing shipping services, and introducing flexible regional shipping lines. Set to officially operate in February 2025, the initiative will effectively strengthen the resilience and responsiveness of supply chains.
In the first ten months of 2023, Xinjiang's express delivery volume exceeded 350 million packages, reflecting enhanced economic vitality. This growth is attributed to the implementation of free shipping policies and an increasingly improved delivery network. The express delivery industry has provided a broader market for Xinjiang's specialty agricultural products, driving local economic development.
This article explores the changes and challenges faced by the overseas warehouse industry under new circumstances, including the rise of cross-border e-commerce platforms, tightening tax policies, and shifting market demands. Though the demand is substantial, intense competition is squeezing profit margins, requiring companies to adjust their strategies flexibly to adapt to the new environment.
YTO Express released its third quarter financial report, showing a revenue of 49.369 billion yuan and a net profit of 2.93 billion yuan for the first three quarters, reflecting year-on-year growth. The company will continue to optimize its digital and intelligent development, actively promote its international strategy, increase its aviation business layout, enhance market competitiveness, and commit to expanding its global business and growth potential.
By the end of June 2024, a total of 3,286 internet freight companies in the country uploaded 80.877 million waybills, representing a year-on-year increase of 52.8%. The top three provinces in waybill upload volume are Anhui, Tianjin, and Jiangsu. Compliance assessments indicate that Henan, Hubei, and Shandong performed well, while some provinces and cities still showed deficiencies in data reporting.
The article analyzes the shortcomings facing intermodal transport in China, such as poor infrastructure connectivity and imbalanced pricing between road and rail. It emphasizes the need to enhance efficiency and service quality through strengthened infrastructure connections, cargo organization, and transportation services.
In August 2024, China's warehouse index rose to 50.2%, indicating a recovery in the industry. Key indicators such as end-of-period inventory, average inventory turnover, number of employees, and business expectations have improved. However, the new orders index remains below the prosperity line, suggesting that demand has not fully recovered.
DB Cargo is facing significant challenges in 2024, planning to lay off 5,000 employees to cope with a challenging market environment and pressure from the EU regarding financial support. The restructuring plan includes splitting into several independent divisions to improve operational efficiency. Despite facing substantial losses, the EU has approved €1.9 billion in state aid, offering hope for the company's transformation.
Recently, SF Express Same City launched a recruitment campaign for freight city agents to enhance four-wheeled transport capacity and meet merchant demands. The company offers unlimited order commissions and abundant resource support to assist partners' development. It also introduced favorable policies to help truck drivers achieve flexible employment.