China's e-commerce logistics index was 108.9 points in February, down 0.3 points from the previous month, industry data showed on Thursday.
The month-on-month decline was primarily due to the Spring Festival holiday in early February, with the drop narrowing slightly, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said.
After the holiday, the e-commerce logistics market showed signs of recovery and stable growth. The sub-index of total business volume stood at 123.3 points, marking a slight 0.1-point decrease from January, but still exceeding the level recorded in the same period last year.
On the supply side, most sub-indexes held steady, with both the inventory turnover and load factor sub-indexes rising by 0.4 points month on month. This suggests that logistics companies resumed operations following the Spring Festival, and inventory turnover rates began to accelerate.
On the demand side, the recent inclusion of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches in the country's trade-in program has continued to drive strong consumer interest in these electronic and smart products.
Moreover, with the booming box office sales from films released during the Spring Festival and the 9th Asian Winter Games, searches for cultural and sports-related products have surged, further highlighting the growing influence of the cultural and sports industries on consumer spending.
Additionally, the logistics cost sub-index dropped to 119.4 points in February, falling below 120 for the first time since January 2023. This reflects the continued effects of policies aimed at lowering logistics costs across the broader economy, with noticeable impacts in the e-commerce logistics sector.
China's e-commerce logistics index falls slightly in Feb
A crossing point on the Türkiye-Iran border is seeing people going in both directions as some flee the conflict in Iran, while others are returning to their homeland with a vow to fight in the war as U.S.-Israel strikes continue to pummel the country.
Nestled in the mountains between Türkiye and Iran, the Kapikoy border crossing has become a key point of entry or exit, especially given the mass flight suspensions and airspace closures as a result of the conflict which erupted on Feb. 28.
Despite the dangers, Akbar, an Iranian who has lived in Germany for 12 years, is one of the many young men who are determined to head home and join the efforts to defend their country.
He said he decided to return immediately after seeing new reports that his hometown of Isfahan in central Iran had been bombed. He vowed to stand by his country until the end. "I want to return to Iran to protect my country. I am willing to give my life for my motherland. For my life and my compatriots, I am willing to give my life. I have no intention of returning to Germany. I will stay in Iran. I will protect my country with my own life. I want the whole world to know Iranians will always steadfastly protect their country," said Akbar.
Other Iranians who had been working in Türkiye said they were prepared to return for the same reason and do whatever they can to protect their homeland.
"Israel and the United States have made a grave mistake. They will pay a price, a heavy one. We will fight to the end to defend Iran," said one of the young men at the border crossing.
But the border point is also seeing a stream of people going in the opposite direction, as many Iranians are passing through here as they seek to flee the constant aerial bombardment by the U.S and Israel.
"We saw many bombs, four bombs, or, I don't know, five bombs. We are very scared, [I'm] with my mom, and we want to go to Türkiye, it's safe there," said Mahir, an Iranian university student.
Mahir also spoke of the trauma brought by the crisis, saying he has barely slept over the past few days, but every time he closes his eyes, all he sees is explosions. He also expressed worries about others who have been left behind, including his best friend, who is still stuck hundreds of kilometers away in the city of Tabriz.
More than 1,330 Iranian civilians, including women and children, have been killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes and thousands more injured, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said on Friday, while accusing the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across Iran
U.S.-Israeli strikes continue to pound the capital Tehran and other areas of Iran. Much of the Iranian capital has been shrouded in thick black smoke in recent days after oil depots in surrounding areas were targeted, raising concerns over the impact of pollution and the disruption to fuel supplies.
Since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region, hitting many countries in the Gulf.
Some flee, others return to fight as Türkiye-Iran border crossing sees people going in both directions
