China State Post Bureau mandates stricter industry safety and pricing oversight

The State Post Bureau of China convened a two-day symposium in Luoyang ending October 23, focusing on standardizing safety management and market order within the domestic courier industry. Regulators emphasized the need for stricter oversight of operational risks, including fire safety, subcontracting practices, and data protection.

A central theme of the meeting was the continued push against "involution," or hyper-competitive practices that undermine market stability. The bureau instructed courier firms to stabilize final-mile delivery fees, refine cost-accounting methods, and prevent excessive pressure on regional networks. Operators were warned against offloading management costs onto lower-level service providers.

The regulatory push follows a period of growth in the sector. According to recently released data for the first three quarters of the year, the industry generated 1.39 trillion yuan in revenue, with parcel delivery volumes reaching 164.1 billion units. As growth continues, the government aims to ensure that volume gains do not come at the expense of safety or fair market competition.