1.SHEIN retains the top spot for global shopping app downloads in 2023

On January 16th, the latest "2024 Mobile Market Report" released by market analysis firm data.ai revealed that SHEIN, a fashion and lifestyle online retailer, once again secured the top position for global shopping app downloads in 2023. Temu, Amazon, and Aliexpress ranked second, third, and ninth, respectively, in the shopping app downloads for 2023. This marks SHEIN's consecutive second year at the top of the shopping app download rankings since 2022. Apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify secured the top positions in the short video, social media, and music categories, respectively.

Source: Cross-border Export Intelligence Bureau

2.Temu makes it to the Forbes China Outbound Global Brand TOP 30 in 2023

On January 16th, Forbes China and Foco unveiled the "2023 Forbes China Outbound Global Brand TOP 30" and "2023 Forbes China Outbound Global Personality TOP 30" lists. All 30 globalized enterprises have established their main companies overseas and have overseas employees. Sixty percent of these enterprises have outbound business accounting for over 35% of their overall business. Pinduoduo's TEMU generated nearly $15 billion in overseas revenue, while companies like JinkoSolar earned over ¥70 billion in revenue from overseas markets. The list also includes global e-commerce platforms and service agencies such as Ozon, 55haitao, and PingPong.

Source: Forbes China

3.Amazon US introduces new feature to reduce buyer return rates

On January 16th, Amazon US announced the launch of a new feature, "Reduce Customer Returns," to help sellers minimize returns and improve the overall shopping experience for customers. According to the announcement, the feature provides sellers with insights based on return rates, customer reviews, feedback, and other data, offering financial impacts, detailed page recommendations, customer issue trends, list comparisons, ideal locations, and more.

Source: Amazon

4.Cainiao International Non-Air Transfer Center officially launched in Xi'an

On January 16th, the only Cainiao International Non-Air Transfer Center in the country was officially launched at Xi'an Chanba International Port. During the launch ceremony, the Director of the Xi'an Postal Administration presented the International Express License to Cainiao Group. The launch of the Cainiao International Non-Air Transfer Center will accelerate the aggregation of cross-border e-commerce industry elements and promote the formation of a two-way characteristic layout in the park for "China-Europe Express + Cross-border E-commerce" and "TIR Card Flight + Cross-border E-commerce."

Source: Xi'an Chanba International Port

5.SF Express opens "Ezhou=Lahore" international cargo route

On January 16th, SF Express's B767-300 freighter carrying 41 tons of cargo took off from Ezhou Huahu Airport, heading to Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan. This marks the official opening of the "Ezhou=Lahore" international cargo route, the first freight route from Ezhou to Pakistan and SF Express's first international route opened at Ezhou Huahu Airport in 2024.

The "Ezhou=Lahore" route is planned to operate three flights per week, providing over 300 tons of air cargo capacity for round-trip transportation between Ezhou and Lahore every week. The transported goods mainly include textiles, 3C electronic products, electronic equipment, etc., creating an efficient and stable air logistics channel for trade between China and Pakistan.

Source: Fengcai Yiyi

6.Cirium predicts approximately 3,590 freighters to be delivered in the next twenty years

On January 16th, according to the latest data from Cirium Ascend, it is estimated that around 3,590 freighters will enter the market in the next 20 years, including 1,060 new-built freighters (30%) and 2,530 passenger-to-freighter conversions (70%). This forecast reflects the dynamics in the air cargo market caused by the pandemic, including the prosperity of the current freighter conversion market due to e-commerce growth and availability of raw materials. Cirium also adds that freight capacity (Available Tonne Kilometers or ATKs) is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% per year, while freight traffic (Freight Tonne Kilometers or FTKs) will grow at a rate of 4%.

Source: Air Cargo News

7.Delta Air Lines experiences a slowdown in freight revenue decline in Q4 2023

On January 16th, Delta Air Lines released its performance report, indicating a year-on-year decline of 24% in freight revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023, amounting to $188 million. This represents an improvement compared to the performance in other quarters of 2023. Delta Air Lines' freight performance indicates a slight growth in demand for e-commerce and other cargo transportation in the fourth quarter of 2023, marking the first positive growth in the market in nearly 18 months.

In the first three quarters of 2023, Delta Air Lines experienced a year-on-year decline in freight revenue ranging from 28% to 37%. The annual freight sales decreased by 31%, reaching $723 million. The fourth quarter of 2023 is typically the strongest period for air logistics companies due to the seasonal transportation patterns leading up to major holiday shopping events, contributing to increased demand.

Source: FreightWaves

8.Urumqi welcomes its first international all-cargo airline

On January 16th, under the supervision of Urumqi Diwobao Airport Customs, a full-freighter loaded with 13 tons of machinery equipment, electronic components, clothing, and daily necessities departed from Urumqi Diwobao International Airport and will arrive in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The full-freighter is operated by Shandong Airlines, the first airline to operate international all-cargo routes at Urumqi Diwobao International Airport.

Source: Economic Daily

9.COSCO SHIPPING "Warehouse Delivery" sees its first global transaction in Tianjin

On January 16th, COSCO SHIPPING's "Warehouse Delivery" product saw its first global transaction landing in Tianjin. After placing an order for "Warehouse Delivery," COSCO SHIPPING Logistics Tianjin immediately contacted the customer, jointly developed unloading and packing plans with the yard based on information such as the number of items, gross weight, volume, packaging, and the requirements of unloading and packing processes. Simultaneously, considering the customer's arrival time, the yard prioritized arranging container sources and guided the customer to complete the packing appointment before the arrival, minimizing the waiting time for truck drivers during unloading.

Source: COSCO SHIPPING

10.Shenzhen cross-border e-commerce sees a 74.7% year-on-year growth in turnover for the first 11 months of 2023

On January 16th, the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Commerce announced that from January to November 2023, the cross-border e-commerce import and export turnover in Shenzhen exceeded the full-year figure for 2022, showing a year-on-year growth of 74.7%. This growth contributed 6 percentage points to the overall growth of foreign trade in Shenzhen and drove a 22-percentage-point increase in cross-border e-commerce import and export in Guangdong Province. As of November 2023, the area of overseas warehouses operated by Shenzhen enterprises exceeded 3.8 million square meters, with an increase of approximately 1 million square meters compared to 2022.

Source: Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Commerce