1.Ezhou Huahu Airport opens the "Ezhou = Moscow" international freight route

On January 23rd, a Boeing 757 aircraft took off from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport in Russia and successfully landed at Ezhou Huahu Airport. Four hours later, it returned to Moscow carrying 30 tons of general cargo, marking the official opening of the "Ezhou = Moscow" full freight route at Ezhou Huahu Airport.

This route is the first international freight route to Eastern Europe opened by Ezhou Huahu Airport and the second international freight route opened in 2024 after the Lahore route in Pakistan. The route is a collaboration between Ezhou Huahu Airport and Shenzhen Horizon Express Company, operated by Russia's Yelena Airlines using the Boeing B757-200 aircraft. Initially, the plan is to operate 1 to 2 flights per week, focusing on transporting general cargo.

As of now, Ezhou Huahu Airport has opened 12 international freight routes, connecting 15 international freight points.

Source: Ezhou Huahu Airport

2.Shenzhen Airport: Continues to deepen cooperation with cross-border e-commerce companies like SHEIN

On January 23rd, Shenzhen Airport responded on the interactive platform to investor inquiries, stating that Shenzhen Airport continues to deepen cooperation with cross-border e-commerce companies like SHEIN. The focus is on serving the operational needs of core customers in Shenzhen Airport in terms of facility resources, route network, customs clearance services, and standard innovation. This aims to improve the efficiency of cross-border e-commerce cargo transportation, reduce transportation costs, expand the scale of cross-border e-commerce business, and contribute to high-level external opening.

Source: Interaction Easy

3.Flexport secures a new financing of $260 million from Shopify

On January 23rd, Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen announced that Flexport has obtained a new round of financing of $260 million from Shopify. This financing is an uncapped convertible note, a favorable financing method for early-stage startups.

Source: Chuangye Bang

4.Another cross-border e-commerce company plans to go public in Hong Kong

On January 23rd, Jihong Shares announced plans to issue overseas listed foreign shares (H shares) and apply for listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company aims to enhance its capital strength, improve corporate governance, and core competitiveness. The planned H-share issuance does not exceed 67.95 million shares, approximately 15% of the total post-issue share capital (before exercising the over-allotment option). The funds raised will be used for overseas market expansion of cross-border social e-commerce business, increased research and development investment, brand building, and supplementary operating funds.

Jihong Shares, established in 2003 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2016, operates cross-border e-commerce business with significant growth in the first half of 2023.

Source: Shanghai Securities News

5.AliExpress offers commission reductions for semi-managed goods

On January 23rd, AliExpress announced that starting from January 20th, semi-managed goods can enjoy commission reductions of 50% to 100%. There are also rewards for timely shipping during the Spring Festival period.

According to the announcement, for semi-managed goods from self-operated merchants (POP merchants), if sent from the warehouse, the commission is fully waived from January 20th to the end of February. If JIT shipping is chosen, a 50% commission refund can be enjoyed. From January 22nd to February 9th, semi-managed warehouse-shipped goods can benefit from free door-to-door collection.

For the upcoming Spring Festival, AliExpress merchants can achieve uninterrupted order processing, enjoy traffic-weighted on-shelf the next day, automatic order acceptance within the warehouse during the Chinese New Year, with waived warehouse operation fees and rent for popular SKUs, and even receive a 60% next-day settlement for in-warehouse orders.

Source: AliExpress

6.eBay US site announces changes to 2024 USPS rates

On January 23rd, eBay's US site announced changes to the 2024 USPS rates, effective from January 21st. Changes on eBay labels include:

• Priority Mail: Most rates are decreasing, with potential savings of up to $4.54 on packages weighing less than 20 pounds, depending on weight and region.

• Priority Mail Flat Rate: Shipping costs per item will increase by $0.37 to $0.56.

• Ground Advantage: Packages below one pound will see an average increase of 5.4%, while those above one pound will remain largely unchanged.

• Media Mail: Shipping costs per item will increase by $0.21.

Source: eBay

7.State Post Bureau: International/Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan express business volume reached 3.07 billion items in 2023

On January 23rd, the State Post Bureau released the operational situation of the postal industry in 2023. The total postal industry delivery volume in 2023 reached 162.48 billion items, a year-on-year increase of 16.8%. The express delivery volume (excluding postal group parcel business) accumulated to 132.07 billion items, with a year-on-year increase of 19.4%. In 2023, the same-city express delivery volume reached 13.64 billion items, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%; the intercity express delivery volume reached 115.36 billion items, a year-on-year increase of 20.5%; and the international/Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan express delivery volume reached 3.07 billion items, a year-on-year increase of 52.0%.

Source: State Post Bureau

8.Shanghai International Port Group: 2023 cargo throughput of 564 million tons, net profit of 13.1 billion yuan

On January 23rd, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. released its 2023 annual performance report. The company achieved a cargo throughput of 564 million tons last year, with container throughput reaching 49.158 million TEUs.

In terms of financial data, the company's total operating income was 37.55 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.7%; operating profit was 16.17 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 21.5%; net profit attributable to the shareholders of the listed company was 13.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 23.9%. The basic earnings per share were 0.56 yuan, and the weighted average return on net assets was 11.1%.

Source: Viewpoint Network

9.Jinjiang Shipping releases the first annual performance forecast after listing

On January 23rd, Shanghai Jinjiang Shipping (Group) Co., Ltd. released its 2023 annual performance forecast, the first after its A-share listing. Jinjiang Shipping expects to achieve a net profit attributable to the owner of the parent company of approximately 735 million to 820 million yuan in 2023, a year-on-year decrease of 55.12% to 59.77%. In addition, earnings per share are projected to be 1.66 yuan.

The main reasons for the performance decline, according to Jinjiang Shipping, are the global economic slowdown in 2023 and changes in the supply and demand of the container shipping market, leading to a decrease in container transportation prices. The China Containerized Freight