Dongxing Securities·2026-01-22 08:07Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" [3][30] Core Insights - The express delivery industry in China experienced a total delivery volume of 216.5 billion pieces in 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 11.5%. The express delivery volume reached 199 billion pieces, growing by 13.7% year-on-year. The total revenue for the postal industry was 1.8 trillion yuan, with express delivery revenue at 1.5 trillion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of 6.4% and 6.5% respectively [1][6] - In December 2025, the national express service companies completed a business volume of 18.21 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of approximately 2.3%. The express business revenue was about 138.87 billion yuan, showing a slight increase compared to the same period last year. The average revenue per piece was approximately 7.63 yuan, a year-on-year decrease of about 1.6% [1][6][8] Summary by Sections 1. December Industry Overview - The industry volume growth rate fell below 3%, with stable performance in average revenue per piece. The December express delivery volume growth rate decreased further compared to November, attributed to high base effects from last year's price wars and weak demand since Double Eleven [2][6][8] - Major companies saw a decline in year-on-year volume growth rates, with YTO dropping from 13.6% in November to 9.0%, Yunda from -4.2% to -7.4%, and Shentong from 14.7% to 11.1%. SF Express's growth rate fell to 9.3% [2][6][12] 2. Express Business Volume - The express delivery business volume in December 2025 was approximately 18.21 billion pieces, with a year-on-year growth of about 2.3%. The growth rate continued to decline due to the ongoing internal competition and weak demand since Double Eleven [8][10] 3. Average Revenue per Piece - The average revenue per piece in December 2025 saw a year-on-year decline of 1.6%, with a narrowing decrease in the price drop trend. The overall price indicators remained positive, indicating a supportive effect from the internal competition [7][22][28] - The revenue per piece for major companies showed mixed results, with YTO's revenue per piece increasing by 0.4%, while Yunda and Shentong saw decreases of 0.5% and 3.3% respectively. SF Express's revenue per piece increased by 2.5% month-on-month, with a narrowing year-on-year decline [23][25][27] 4. Investment Recommendations - Despite the pressure from lower-than-expected demand since Double Eleven, the stability in average revenue per piece for major companies reflects the supportive role of internal competition on pricing. The ongoing internal competition is expected to exceed expectations, indicating the industry is in the early stages of an upward cycle, with profitability likely to continue recovering [3][30] - The shift from high-growth to a focus on existing market importance suggests a change in competitive logic, emphasizing service quality for sustainable development. Key companies to watch include Zhongtong and YTO, which lead in service quality, and Shentong, which has shown significant operational improvements [3][30]