Chan Ye Xin Xi Wang·2025-07-30 01:30Core Insights - The warehouse industry is a critical component of the modern logistics system, providing essential services such as storage, inventory management, sorting, packaging, and distribution, which are vital for the efficient operation of the real economy [1][4] - The demand for warehouses has significantly increased due to the rise of e-commerce and consumption upgrades, leading to a substantial growth in warehouse completion area in recent years [4][6] - In 2023, China's warehouse completion area reached 32.96 million m², an increase of 4.17 million m² compared to 2022, while a projected decrease of 24% is expected in 2024 with a completion area of 25.08 million m² [4][6] Warehouse Industry Definition and Classification - The warehouse industry encompasses the operation of logistics infrastructure that provides storage, custody, sorting, distribution, and related value-added services, forming a core part of the modern supply chain [2] - Warehouses can be classified based on operational entities (third-party, self-operated, public, and platform-based cloud warehouses), functional purposes (storage, circulation, and specialized warehouses), and technological levels (traditional, automated, intelligent, and digital twin warehouses) [2] Current Development Status - The general warehouse area in China has been on a growth trend, with the total area expected to reach approximately 1 billion m² by 2024, an increase of 517 million m² from 2023 [6] - The rental area of general warehouses is 54.898 million m², with 1.722 million m² currently under construction and a total of 40,274 warehouse parks [6][8] Industry Chain - The warehouse industry chain revolves around the core link of "goods storage and circulation," involving a wide range of upstream and downstream related industries [10] - Upstream includes suppliers of storage infrastructure and equipment, while midstream consists of warehouse service operations, and downstream includes demand from manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, and logistics sectors [10][11] Competitive Landscape - The warehouse market in China exhibits a multi-tiered differentiation structure, with major players including national logistics giants, specialized logistics real estate companies, and regional small to medium-sized storage enterprises [12] - National logistics giants like JD Logistics, SF Express, and Cainiao Network lead the first tier, while specialized logistics real estate firms like Prologis and Wanwei Logistics occupy the second tier [12] Future Development Trends - The warehouse industry is undergoing a transformation from "scale expansion" to "quality upgrade," with leading companies consolidating their advantages through technological investments and mergers [19] - Future competition in the warehouse industry will focus on intelligence, sustainability, and globalization [19]