Abu Dhabi:China's logistics sector has experienced steady growth in the first eight months of 2026, spurred by resilient logistics demand and ongoing improvements in infrastructure.

According to Emirates News Agency, the total value of social logistics, which measures the value of goods circulating through the logistics system, reached 243.6 trillion yuan (US$36.3 trillion) from January to August. This represents a 4.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing provided this data.

On the demand side, industrial logistics remained stable, with the total value of industrial product logistics rising by 5.3 percent year-on-year. August alone saw a 4.9 percent increase, 0.4 percentage points faster than the previous month. New growth drivers, such as high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing, significantly contributed to logistics demand. In August, these sectors grew by 16.7 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, contributing over 60 percent to the growth of industrial enterprises above the designated size.

The supply side of the logistics market also showed steady expansion. Multimodal transport was promoted at a rapid pace, with the volume of rail-water intermodal transport increasing by 8.6 percent year-on-year, and rail-road intermodal transport surging by 65.5 percent in the first eight months. Additionally, international transport corridors saw enhanced capacity and quality, with 24,605 freight trains operating on China-Europe and China-Central Asia routes, a 9.7 percent increase year-on-year.

Liu Yuhang, Director of the China Logistics Information Centre, noted that the construction of comprehensive logistics hubs and major logistics service systems is accelerating. Investment in water and air transport has maintained double-digit growth, improving the transport capacity of various modes, including shipping and railways, thereby ensuring smooth industrial circulation.