1.Alibaba International Station to Launch Semi-Managed Services

On January 8th, Alibaba's overseas B2B cross-border trade platform, "Alibaba International Station," announced the launch of a more cost-effective and deterministic fulfillment service called "Semi-Managed Services." The project started recruiting on January 5th, covering 22 key primary industries, including consumer electronics, home appliances, jewelry, clothing, beauty products, home goods, and industrial goods, totaling 176 product categories. The service is expected to be officially launched on February 3rd, initially opening in six countries: the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, with plans for expansion to 20 other countries in the future.

Source: Guandian Net

2.AliExpress "Semi-Managed" Fully Launched

On January 8th, after six months of trial operation, AliExpress's "Semi-Managed" service was officially launched in January. All merchants can apply to join and enjoy logistics subsidies and exclusive traffic. The core of the semi-managed service is "platform-provided warehousing and logistics (cross-border warehouse dispatch/Just-In-Time) management services." After joining, merchants can continue their original operation methods, including pricing and listing for sale. The platform will provide solutions such as warehousing and logistics, exclusive marketing activities, and after-sales services.

AliExpress, as a global platform, will focus on the U.S. market this year, with semi-management as a key development direction.

Source: 36Kr, Yibang Power

3.DHL UK Invests £16 Million to Improve Airport Facilities

On January 8th, DHL Express UK announced a £16 million investment to purchase electric ground service vehicles and improve infrastructure at East Midlands Airport (EMA) as part of its goal to achieve fully electrified ground handling operations by 2032. The investment will be carried out over three years, introducing 100 new electric ground service transport vehicles and operating equipment. Additionally, DHL UK will invest an extra £7 million to replace or enhance non-electrically driven equipment like de-icing platforms, further improving airport ground handling operations.

This investment aligns with DHL UK's aim to handle over one million items each night during the airport's peak operating season. East Midlands Airport predicts processing 400,000 tons of cargo by the end of this fiscal year, underscoring its crucial role as a key hub in the DHL global network.

Source: China Postal Express & Logistics News

4.TECNO, a Subsidiary of Transsion, Joins Temu

On January 8th, TECNO, a brand under the Transsion Group, joined the cross-border e-commerce platform Temu, becoming the first global smartphone brand to open an official flagship store on the platform. Temu has provided TECNO with the highest level of resource support, including prominent resources such as homepage posters and splash screen advertisements, as well as substantial subsidies for high-value products. The flagship store, named "TECNO MOBILE OFFICIAL STORE," is currently available on sites like Mexico.

TECNO, founded in 2013, is a brand under Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co., Ltd., with business operations spanning over 70 countries globally. As of Q1 2023, Transsion Holdings held a 13.9% market share in the global mobile phone market, with a 7.6% share in the smartphone market. In the African market, the company's smartphone market share exceeded 40% in 2021.

Source: Ebrun

5.Cainiao and McDonald's China Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement

On January 8th, McDonald's China and Cainiao Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement for the digitization of the supply chain. According to the agreement, the two parties will start with the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) project and advance the implementation of Cainiao's RFID solutions in McDonald's supply chain. They will also explore cooperation in supply chain digitization and automation, aiming to support McDonald's China in building a digitalized supply chain, enhancing supply chain efficiency and traceability, and improving customer and employee experiences.

Source: Cainiao Group

6.Ministry of Commerce: China's Service Import and Export Totaled RMB 58.902 Trillion from January to November, a Year-on-Year Increase of 9%

On January 8th, the person in charge of the Service Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce introduced the development of service trade in 2023 from January to November. During this period, China's service trade continued to grow, with the total service import and export reaching RMB 58.902 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 9%. Of this, exports amounted to RMB 24.0742 trillion, a decrease of 6.8%. In November alone, the total service import and export reached RMB 5.4478 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 13.7%, with service exports growing by 1.4%.

Source: Zhitong Finance

7.E-commerce in Brazil Expected to Grow by 10% in 2024

On January 8th, according to the Brazilian E-Commerce Association (ABComm), the growth momentum of e-commerce is expected to remain unchanged in the coming four years. Specifically, by 2024, e-commerce revenue is projected to reach BRL 205.11 billion, representing a 10.45% increase compared to the sales forecast for 2023. The average order value is estimated at around BRL 490, with a total order count of approximately 418.6 million.

This high demand is attributed to the increasing number of online shopping customers, expected to reach 91 million. Moreover, according to a survey by Opinion Box, 54% of consumers indicate that they plan to shop online more frequently in the first half of 2024.

Source: Cross-border Southeast Asia

8.Asia-Europe Route Spot Container Freight Rates Surge Over 100%

On January 8th, influenced by the Red Sea crisis, the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) continued its upward trend, reaching $2,670 per FEU (Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit) as of the week ending January 4th. This represents a 61% increase compared to the previous week, a 25% increase from the same period in 2022, and an 88% increase from the pre-pandemic average level of $1,420 in 2019.

As of January 4th, the average comprehensive index for the year is $2,670 per FEU, only $3 lower than the 10-year average freight rate of $2,673 per FEU. Routes departing from China experienced significant increases, with Shanghai-Rotterdam soaring by 115% to $3,577 per FEU, Shanghai-Genoa rising by 114% to $4,176 per FEU, Shanghai-New York increasing by 26% to $3,858 per FEU, and Shanghai-Los Angeles rising by 30% to $2,726 per FEU.

Source: Drewry