A worker sorts parcels at a distribution center in Chenzhou, Hunan province. (CAO GAOLIN / CHINA DAILY)

China handled nearly 27 billion parcels from January to March, a year-on-year increase of 11 percent, showcasing the growth of consumer confidence of Chinese residents and the upturn of the economic recovery, an official from the State Post Bureau of China said on Wednesday.

The sector's business income during the period was 258.96 billion yuan ($37.41b), a year-on-year increase of 8.2 percent. 

Zeng Junshan, State Post Bureau of China director

The sector's business income during the period was 258.96 billion yuan ($37.41 billion), a year-on-year increase of 8.2 percent, said Zeng Junshan, spokesman for the bureau and also the director of the bureau's policy and regulation department, at a news conference.

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Affected by the factors such as the Spring Festival, when some couriers and parcel delivery centers took off for holiday, the average daily parcel delivery number fell in January, but the volume began to rise from February to March, he said.

The average daily parcel delivery number was 233 million, 328 million and 338 million in January, February and March, respectively.

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"Especially in March, more than 10 billion parcels were handled, showing the market demand has picked up," Zeng said.

The vitality of the market continued to increase, and the willingness of enterprises to invest remains high, Zeng noted.

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The postal industry continues to increase investment in technology research and development, infrastructure construction, equipment and facilities, and transportation capacity. A number of large-scale processing centers have started construction. The industry has added 3 all-cargo aircraft. China Post Group signed an order to buy 9 aircraft with Xiamen Airlines.