China's logistics sector continued to expand in September 2026, with the logistics business activity index edging up further, according to data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on Sunday.
The index tracking the country's logistics market, an indicator of economic vitality, came in at 51.5 percent last month, up 0.6 percentage points from August, and has now stayed in expansion territory for five consecutive months, the data revealed.
Of the 12 sub-indices, 10 rose from the previous month. The new orders sub-index rose 0.4 percentage points from August to 51.2 percent in September, marking its seventh consecutive monthly increase.
According to the data, the total business volume sub-index rose in the eastern, central and western regions, reaching 51.3 percent, 51.2 percent and 51.7 percent, respectively. The eastern region saw its index climb 1 percentage point from August, making it the main driver of the overall increase.
"The logistics industry prosperity index has stayed in expansion territory for five consecutive months, with both the business volume index and the new orders index rebounding in tandem. It's a sign of strong policy-market synergy, as measures to boost consumption, improve livelihoods and ensure steady growth have driven positive changes in logistics demand," said He Hui, vice president of the CFLP.
Logistics demand varied though across regions, with the new orders index rising month on month in the east and center regions, but falling 0.5 percentage points in the west.
Driven by expanding consumption during the peak season, the business volume indices for railway transport, road transport, postal and express delivery all increased from the previous month, up 0.5, 0.8 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively.
Data changes since the third quarter of 2026 show that growing demand for logistics services and stabilizing micro-level operations have laid the foundation for stable performance in the fourth quarter, according to the federation.
China's logistics sector continues to expand in September
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on Saturday postponing the presidential and legislative elections until Sept 11, 2027, calling for the two elections to be held simultaneously.
The decision follows a resolution by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and revokes Decree No. 4 of 2026, which had scheduled the legislative elections for Nov 28, 2026, according to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).
The decree cited deteriorating security conditions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, restrictions on freedom of movement and Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues as major challenges to election preparations.
In the Gaza Strip, continued exceptional security and humanitarian conditions, the failure to deploy international stabilization and police forces as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, the lack of progress in reconstruction, and the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces have created additional obstacles, WAFA reported.
Israeli restrictions on access to Gaza and East Jerusalem for Palestine's Central Elections Commission (CEC) staff and international observers have also hindered preparations and limited electoral bodies' ability to operate in accordance with legal and democratic standards, the agency said.
Under the decree, the CEC is responsible for preparing, organizing and supervising the presidential and legislative elections in accordance with the applicable General Elections Law, ensuring they are free, fair, transparent and inclusive throughout the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The decree follows national consultations among Palestinian factions and political forces, which, according to WAFA, reached a consensus to postpone the elections.
The legislative elections were part of a broader Palestinian electoral process amid a political division between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as challenges to holding elections across all Palestinian territories.
Abbas postpones Palestinian presidential, legislative elections to Sept 11, 2027
