Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-05-05 23:13Core Insights - The express delivery industry in China has achieved comprehensive profitability for the first time, driven by the growth in e-commerce returns, automation technologies, and improved management practices [2][6][8] Business Growth - In 2024, the average daily business volume in the express delivery industry reached nearly 500 million packages, with major players like YTO, Yunda, Shentong, and Jitu exceeding the industry average growth rate of 21% [3][4] - The market share of Zhongtong remains the highest, but the gap with YTO is narrowing, while only Shentong saw an increase in market share compared to 2023 [3] - Reverse logistics and scattered orders have become significant growth sources for express companies, with Jitu reporting an 80% year-on-year increase in reverse and scattered orders [3][4] - Shentong's large customer business grew by 260% in 2024, driven by customized solutions for over 20 industries [4][5] Profit Growth - All eight major listed express companies achieved profitability in 2024, with SF Express reporting a net profit of 10.17 billion yuan, the highest since its A-share listing [6][7] - JD Logistics and Shentong experienced significant profit growth, with JD Logistics' net profit increasing by 507.2% year-on-year to 7.088 billion yuan [6][7] - Jitu achieved a net profit of 1.1 million USD, marking its first overall profitability, attributed to refined management and technology applications [7] Industry Transformation - The express delivery sector is undergoing a transformation from labor-intensive to technology-driven operations, with companies like Shentong and Debang reducing employee numbers while increasing efficiency through automation [8][9][10] - SF Express reduced its workforce from 153,125 to 147,189, while increasing average annual salary by 7.4% to 217,000 yuan [8] - Yunda and Debang also reported reductions in employee numbers, with Yunda's workforce decreasing to below 10,000 for the first time [9][10]