EXTENDED EFFECTS OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS ON CHINESE SHIPPING THROUGH 2022
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or eight years, we have been tracking both regional and international shipping data to compile our Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index, which measures parcel volume and spend for business-to-business, business-to-consumer, consumer-to -business, and consumer-consigned shipments with weight up to 31.5kg (70 pounds). The Index tracks data for Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States and represents the parcel shipping activity of 3.8 billion people across these markets. This year’s index data follows the post-pandemic aftermath of COVID-related supply chain disruption, rising costs, and labor shortages, and shows that major markets like China are still showing signs of slowdown, impacting the overall global parcel volume.
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In 2022, global parcel volume reached 161 billion, which is 5,102 parcels shipped every second, a mere one percent increase from 2021. This slowdown is largely due to China’s economy and a reset from the stratospheric growth seen during peak covid. China parcels increased two percent to 111 billion parcels, which is the slowest rate of growth since the Index’s inception. From 2013 to 2021, China’s parcel volume had maintained a double-digit growth rate, until 2022 when COVID-related lockdowns nearly halted growth. Pre-pandemic China parcel volume forecast was 25% CAGR 2018 to 2022. Actual volume growth was lower, at 22% CAGR 2018 to 2022. Despite China’s slowing growth, India led with the highest parcel volume increase at 18% driven by significant expansion in e-commerce. Italy (4%), Australia (2%), and Brazil (2%) also followed suit with volume growth, while
18 PARCELindustry.com CROSS-BORDER & GLOBAL 2023
Sweden (-11%) and Canada (-9%) reported significant declines. Overall, we did not see a significant change in global parcel revenue with only a one percent decline, which netted out at $485 billion. This decline was impacted by a strong USD and its increase in value compared to other currencies in the Index. Only the United States, Brazil, India, and Australia showed growth in parcel revenue, with the US leading in carrier revenue with seven percent growth in 2022. Revenue per parcel varied significantly, with Canada highest at $9.8, followed by the US at $9.3 and France at $9.1. Despite lower volume, the US generated more revenue than China due to a significantly higher fee per parcel — almost seven times that of China. China’s revenue per parcel is $1.4, the lowest globally, followed by India at $1.7 and Norway at $1.9.