China's logistics sector sees balanced expansion in June

China's logistics sector continued to expand with improved regional balance in June, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said on Sunday.

The index tracking the country's logistics market -- an indicator of economic vitality -- stood at 50.6 percent in June, up 0.3 percentage points from the previous month.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

Nine out of the 12 sub-indexes were in the expansion range, the CFLP noted.

Specifically, the total business volume sub-index came in at 50.6 percent, rising 0.3 percentage points month on month. The new orders sub-index rose by 0.1 percentage points to 50.3 percent. Both figures have posted increases for several consecutive months.

"The new orders sub-index continued to pick up, and the business volume sub-index also remained in expansion, reflecting the coordinated development of supply and demand in the sector. In addition, sub-indexes for eastern, central and western regions all remained in the expansion range, indicating improved regional development balance," said He Hui, vice president of the CFLP.

Logistics demand in the manufacturing sector remained stable with steady growth, and the recovery showed strong momentum in sectors such as electronic machinery equipment manufacturing, communication equipment manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, and energy-saving home appliance manufacturing.

Residents' demand for logistics remained stable, with holiday consumption boosting rebounds in revenues of wholesale, retail, chain stores, and some supermarkets.

In terms of investment, the fixed-asset investment completion sub-index stood at 54.3 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from May.

The sub-index was in the expansion range for railway transportation, air transportation, pipeline transportation and postal express delivery. Especially, the air transportation industry saw a significant increase of 0.6 percentage points.

As for employment, the related sub-index remained flat at 50.3 percent, indicating stable supply and demand of jobs in the sector.

China's logistics sector sees balanced expansion in June

Passenger and freight ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait resumed on Saturday night after the impact of Typhoon Maysak weakened.

Qiongzhou Strait, the waters between south China's island province of Hainan and Guangzhou Province, are crucial for the passage of goods and local produce from the Hainan Free Trade Zone into the mainland, as well as serving tourists traveling to the tropical island.

The services were suspended on Friday morning to brace for Typhoon Maysak, the 10th typhoon of the year, which made landfall on the coast of south China's Hainan Province on Friday evening.

As of 15:00 on Saturday, about 3,200 vehicles were waiting for service resumption on both sides of the strait.

In Haikou, capital of Hainan, a long line of trucks were seen waiting at the parking lot of Nangang Port, some loaded with fresh produce such as flower seedlings and fruits.

"I came here this afternoon. My truck is fully loaded with jackfruit, which will be spoiled in a couple of days," said Liang Zhenfang, a truck driver.

Port staff and volunteers set up a temporary supply distribution site, delivering food and bottled water to drivers and passengers waiting in the parking lot.

In addition, port dispatchers and maritime officers provided guidance for trucks to make sure they are safely loaded onto ships in an orderly manner.

"We have switched to an emergency dispatch mode and opened a special channel at the port for vehicles transporting key materials, such as fruits, vegetables, green agricultural products, and fresh agricultural products, so that they can board ships and depart as soon as possible," said ferry terminal manager Cai Shaojia.

Ferry services resume in Qiongzhou Strait as typhoon wanes