BEIJING - Logistics demand in China continued to improve as economic activities normalized amid the effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic, official data showed.
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The total value of social logistics in the first three quarters rose 2 percent year-on-year to 202.5 trillion yuan (about US$30.1 trillion), according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).
The growth accelerated from a 1.2-percent gain seen in the first eight months.
China's railway freight volume totaled 2.62 billion tons from January to September, up 4.8 percent year-on-year.
The logistics performance index for September came in at 56.1 percent, up from 52.2 percent recorded last month, according to the CFLP.
The composite index tracks business volumes, new orders, employment, inventory turnover and equipment utility rates in China's logistics sector. A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below that reflects contraction.
Rail passenger, cargo traffic rebound
China's rail transport sector has seen a rebound in passenger and cargo volumes in recent months, according to the national railway operator.
September saw the daily average number of train trips hit 7.71 million, about 79.5 percent of the passenger traffic seen in the same period last year, according to China State Railway Group Co, Ltd.
In the first three quarters, Chinese passengers made a total of 1.49 billion train trips.
Meanwhile, rail cargo volume rose steadily despite the impact of the epidemic. China's railway freight volume totaled 2.62 billion tons from January to September, up 4.8 percent year-on-year.
Rail cargo volume, coupled with electricity consumption and the total loans issued, is a key indicator to evaluate an economy.
