China's e-commerce logistics index on rise in September

China

China's e-commerce logistics index on rise in September

2024-10-09 10:29 Last Updated At：18:57

China's e-commerce logistics index, which measures logistics operations within the e-commerce sector, came in at 114.4 points in September, up 0.2 points from August, according to data released Wednesday by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

As consumer potential continues to be released and online shopping activity becomes more vibrant, the e-commerce logistics index has shown a month-on-month rise in September, experts said.

The sub-index for the sector's total business volume increased 0.7 points from the previous month to reach 131.2 points, data from the CFLP showed.

Regionally, the northeastern region recorded the largest increase in its total business volume index.

The rural e-commerce logistics business volume index, which had been in decline, has also begun to rise. In September, this index reached 129.4 points, an increase of 0.5 points from the previous month, with the western region showing the most significant rebound in its rural e-commerce business volume index.

Due to fewer extreme weather events in September compared to August, logistics companies improved their delivery efficiency through bulk shipments, warehousing goods, and direct dispatch delivery. As a result, both the logistics timeliness index and fulfillment rate index remained high.

"Leading logistics firms are leveraging digital and informational technologies to provide integrated services to their clients. The release effect of logistics in stimulating consumption has also been prominent," said Zhou Jianqin, director of the Logistics Management Department at the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University.

UN chief renews call for U.S., Israel to stop war against Iran

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday reiterated his call for the United States and Israel to stop the war against Iran, and for Iran to stop attacking its neighbors.

Noting that the impacts of the conflict are being felt everywhere, Guterres warned that the world is on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the whole Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe.

The secretary-general said that "the Middle East crisis has lurched into its second month", and warned that the scale of devastation, indiscriminate attacks, and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure are all growing.

"My message is clear. To the United States and Israel, it is high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbors. The Security Council has condemned these attacks and reaffirmed the need to respect navigational rights and freedoms along critical maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Conflicts do not end on their own. They end when leaders choose dialog over destruction. That choice still exists, and it must be made now," he said.

Guterres said diplomatic efforts are underway to find a peaceful path forward, which "deserve the space and support to succeed -- anchored firmly in international law, including the UN Charter".