China's logistics sector continued steady expansion in June, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on Wednesday.
The index tracking the country's logistics market was 50.8 percent in June, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month, according to data from the federation.
A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion while a reading below reflects contraction.
Breaking down the data, the total business volume index stayed in the expansion range for four consecutive months.
In terms of regions, the total business volume index in the central and western regions exceeded the national level.
In terms of industries, the total business volume index of road transportation, railway transportation, air transportation and postal express delivery all stood in the expansion zone.
Driven by online shopping and seasonal demand for fresh cold-chain products, the total business volume indexes of postal express delivery and air transportation reached 69.3 percent and 52 percent, respectively, showing significant expansion.
"In the first half of this year, logistics demand maintained a steady recovery, particularly in the consumer sector. The timeliness and fulfillment rates of e-commerce logistics services went up step by step, supporting the entire e-commerce industry's growth in logistics demand for fresh agricultural and sideline products," said Liu Yuhang, director of China Logistics Information Center.
Logistics development in June demonstrated distinct seasonal characteristics, according to experts.
Coal transportation demand remained strong to ensure power supply during the peak summer season, and trade-in programs boosted orders for home appliances, computer, communication, and consumer electronics products. The summer travel season further drove robust demand for cultural tourism, e-commerce, and outdoor goods.
Data showed that sectors of railway transportation, road transportation, and e-commerce logistics all maintained a recovery trend.
China's logistics sector performs better in June
All residents of the two hardest-hit villages in the earthquake-stricken Baqen County of Nagqu City in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region have been properly resettled, with hot meals and heating available at their shelters.
At one resettlement site, more than 200 residents from a village in Maru Town have been housed.
The village that sits closest to the epicenter has seen many one- and two-story buildings suffering severe internal damages and becoming unsafe to live in.
A food supply point set up by the Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers has been providing fresh hot meals and drinking water to affected residents at the resettlement site since Friday.
Many restaurant owners from nearby towns also came to the site early Saturday morning to provide breakfast for the affected residents.
In addition, firefighters went deep into the disaster area on Saturday morning to search for and retrieve valuables for the villagers.
In another hardest-hit village, relocation and resettlement have also been fully completed, with meals, quilts and other heating supplies provided at their shelters.
Since the quake, more than 5,000 personnel have been deployed to the front lines of the disaster relief operation, working in teams for search and rescue, medical treatment, temporary shelter and essential supplies.
After three rounds of comprehensive door-to-door checks, no missing persons had been reported as of 18:00 Friday, according to the emergency command headquarters.
The quake was strong, shallow and widely felt. In the epicenter's core area, some houses collapsed and power and communication facilities were damaged.
Local authorities have launched round-the-clock monitoring and emergency repairs at key sites including mountains, reservoirs, power stations, river channels, dilapidated buildings and communication base stations.
Communication services in Baqen County have now returned to pre-quake levels.
According to a geological hazard risk assessment of the quake zone by the China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources, preliminary findings suggest a relatively low risk of large-scale collapses and landslides in the area.
Worst-hit villagers in Xizang earthquake properly resettled
