China's ratio of total social logistics costs to GDP fell to 13.9% in 2025, marking the first time it has dropped below 14% and setting a new record low since statistics began. This represents a decrease of 0.8 percentage points compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period.
Logistics serves as the vital network supporting the real economy. The reduction of the logistics cost ratio to 13.9% means that for every 100 yuan of GDP generated, logistics expenses have decreased to 13.9 yuan, further lowering costs and improving efficiency for the real economy.
In recent years, China has accelerated the development of a modern logistics system characterized by supply-demand alignment, domestic and international connectivity, safety, efficiency, and smart and green practices. Overall, social logistics costs have maintained a downward trend. On one hand, the construction of major logistics hubs has accelerated, continuously improving the "corridor + hub + network" operational system, which effectively reduces the cost per unit of logistics activity. On the other hand, the integration of logistics and industries has optimized the supply chain structure supporting manufacturing, commerce, and other real economy sectors. This has eliminated redundant logistics links in industrial organization processes, reduced the intensity of logistics activities, and enabled the real economy to create greater value.
"Digital and green collaborative transformation has brought fundamental changes to the logistics industry," said Zhang Xiaolan, a researcher at the Economic Forecasting Department of the State Information Center. A growing number of logistics companies are using digital technologies to optimize management systems, significantly reducing empty-load rates in transportation, while automated warehousing equipment has further enhanced operational efficiency.
Additionally, with the accelerated development of a unified national market, issues such as industry monopolies, local protectionism, and regional segmentation that once existed in the logistics sector have been further addressed, leading to a significant reduction in institutional costs for social logistics.