In the first half of this year, China saw a considerable growth of over 50% in newly launched international air cargo routes, while the share of cargo volume on international routes continued to climb, according the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP). As of June 30, 2025, a total of 145 new air cargo routes were opened nationwide. Among them, 117 were international air cargo routes, marking a year-on-year increase of 58.1%. China's air cargo and mail transportation sector has maintained strong growth this year, fueled by robust demand from cross-border e-commerce and other industries.
International routes have emerged as a key driver, with their share of total cargo volume steadily increasing. Data from the first half of the year shows international cargo and mail shipments surged to 2.037 million tons, marking a 23.4% year-on-year rise and underscoring the sector's rapid expansion. By the end of June, there were 17 cargo airlines in China, operating 249 cargo aircraft. Chinese aviation companies accounted for 44% of the international air cargo market share, an increase of 4 percentage points compared to the previous year. Additionally, air logistical hubs are becoming increasingly concentrated. The combined GDP of the 20 cities with national logistics hubs accounts for over a quarter of the country's total GDP, while the cargo volume of these 20 hub airports makes up more than 80% of the total cargo volume at Chinese airports.
Air logistics experienced robust growth in the first half of the year, driven by the rapid expansion of cross-border e-commerce and overseas manufacturing. As its role in the national economy and market competition continues to grow, a more diversified global trade landscape is emerging. Cui Zhongfu, Chief Economist at CFLP, noted that China's outward-oriented development strategy remains unchanged.
