顺丰极兔“联姻”，“反内卷”背后的电商议价权之争

Core Viewpoint - SF Holding and Jitu Express have announced a strategic mutual shareholding agreement worth up to HKD 8.3 billion, marking a significant move in the domestic express delivery industry towards reducing internal competition and fostering industry consolidation [1][3]. Group 1: Strategic Partnership - SF Holding will issue 226 million H shares to Jitu Express at HKD 36.74 per share, while Jitu Express will issue 822 million Class B shares to SF Holding at HKD 10.10 per share [3]. - Post-transaction, SF Holding will hold 10% of Jitu Express, and Jitu Express will hold 4.29% of SF Holding [3]. - The partnership is expected to enhance operational efficiency and pricing power in the face of competition from e-commerce platforms [3][4]. Group 2: Industry Context - The Chinese express delivery market is projected to reach a revenue of CNY 1.8 trillion and handle 216.5 billion parcels by 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 6.4% and 11.5% respectively [4]. - Despite growth, the industry faces challenges with low profit margins, often relying on extreme price competition, leading to a situation where the cost of delivery is unsustainable [4][6]. - The average revenue per parcel for major express companies has been declining, with significant drops noted for companies like YTO and ZTO [5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The industry is experiencing a shift towards price increases, with regulatory bodies pushing for better pricing strategies to combat the "involution" phenomenon [6][8]. - Major express companies are beginning to raise prices, although the long-standing culture of low pricing remains a significant hurdle [8][9]. - The consolidation of the market is evident, with major players like Jitu and SF Holding seeking to enhance their market positions through strategic partnerships [10]. Group 4: Cross-Border Opportunities - The partnership aims to leverage cross-border logistics, with SF Holding focusing on high-end logistics and Jitu Express on e-commerce deliveries, creating a complementary business model [11][16]. - The international logistics market is expanding, with significant growth in overseas warehouse construction and parcel volume, particularly in Southeast Asia [11][14]. - Both companies are positioned to enhance their competitive edge in international markets, where profit margins are generally higher than in the domestic market [11][17]. Group 5: Pricing Power Challenges - The express delivery sector faces challenges in regaining pricing power against e-commerce platforms, which exert significant influence over logistics costs [17][20]. - Recent trends indicate that platforms like Shopee are increasingly building their logistics capabilities, which could further pressure express companies to lower prices [17][20]. - SF Holding's recent negotiations with Douyin highlight the importance of maintaining pricing power in lucrative segments like returns logistics [21][22].