A worker sorts out goods at the cargo transfer center of Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Ezhou, central China's Hubei Province, July 11, 2025.  (Photo: Xinhua)

China's total value of social logistics rose 5.6 percent year-on-year to reach 171.3 trillion yuan ($23.87 trillion) in the first half of the year, demonstrating a steady development trend as the country's domestic demand potential continues to be unleashed and the structure of demand improves, data from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) showed Tuesday.

The growth rate of total value of social logistics was 0.3 percentage points higher than the country's GDP growth rate during the same period, reflecting that logistics demand continues to play a strong supportive role in the giant economy.

Industrial logistics rose by 5.8 percent in the first six months, contributing 85 percent to the overall growth and providing solid support for the stability of the industrial economy and the smooth operation of industrial and supply chains. With the deeper integration of the digital technology with the real economy, emerging industries have shown strong growth momentum in driving up logistics demand. 

Logistics demand related with the equipment manufacturing industry grew by 10.9 percent year-on-year while that stemming from the high-tech manufacturing industry grew by 9.7 percent year-on-year, becoming key drivers of logistics demand. Logistics volume related to the production of 3D printing equipment and industrial robots both increased by over 20 percent year-on-year, the data showed.

Amid high-level opening-up of the country, continued diversification of foreign trade, and the sustained implementation of policies to expand domestic demand, the decline in import-related logistics narrowed in the second quarter. 

The logistics volume of bulk commodities such as crude oil and iron ore rebounded. Imports of semiconductor chips grow by 8.9 percent year-on-year between January and June, according to the CFLP.

In the first half of the year, driven by a series of policies to expand domestic demand and promote consumption, the consumer market became more active. The total logistics volume related to household goods increased by 6.1 percent year-on-year in the first half, with the growth rate 0.3 percentage points higher than in the first quarter.

Liu Yuhang, director of China Logistics Information Center, said, "Since the beginning of this year, the country's overall consumer demand has grown significantly. In terms of logistics demand, demand for consumer electronics under trade-in programs, as well as consumer goods related to tourism and travel, has maintained a remarkably faster growth rate."