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Freight Trucking in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: November 2024 5220

Revenue

$128.8bn

2024

$128.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

64,642

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Freight Trucking in China industry analysis

The Freight Trucking industry is expected to decrease at a CAGR of 0.4% over the five years through 2024, to total $128.8 billion. This trend includes an anticipated increase of 2.7% from 2023. Over 64,000 freight trucking companies operate in the industry, employing approximately 1.3 million people. The industry provides independent and complementary transportation services to other types of transport modes like rail, water and air transportation. From the perspective of the scale of freight transport in various ways, the share of road freight transport is decreasing, but it still dominates the freight transport industry in China. In 2023, road transportation represented 73.7% of the freight transportation volume and 30.7% of the freight turnover volume in China. Profitability for the Freight Trucking industry is relatively low at an estimated 7.2% of industry revenue in 2024.
As of 2023, China's total road length reached 5.4 million kilometers. China's highway length has increased to 183,600 kilometers by 2023, ranking first in the world. The industry has therefore benefited from the development of a highway infrastructure in China to support economic activity throughout the country and compensate for the overloaded rail system.
The investment in road fixed assets kept increasing in recent years. In 2023, the investment in road fixed assets totaled $398.8 billion, up from $314.5 billion in 2017. Among the investment, the highway fixed assets investment increased to $225.3 billion in 2023, accounting for 56.5% of the total investment.
Promoted by the sales promotion activities by the ecommerce enterprises like Double 11 (the 11th of November), Double 12 (the 12th of December) and New Year's Day, the fourth quarter is usually the peak of social trade and transportation in the year. Road freight in the fourth quarter presents more obvious seasonal characteristics.
China's rail system is overloaded and its transportation growth potential is limited unless the railway network expands considerably. This factor, combined with the rapid pace of highway construction, offers opportunities for road transportation to develop further. Industry revenue is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 2.1% over the five years through 2029, to total $142.7 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Road transportation undertakes the largest freight transportation volume. In 2023, road transportation represented 73.7% of the freight transportation volume and 30.7% of the freight turnover volume in China.
  • Medium-to-long distance freight transportation account for the largest and uprising share. Medium-to-long distance transport mainly carries large-scale freight or containers on highways between cities, and from ports to rural areas.
  • East China demands a large proportion of road freight services. East China has strong manufacturing industries, a highly developed highway system and large populations.
  • This industry has a low concentration level. The four largest players are estimated to account for 12.0% of industry revenue in 2024.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $128.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Freight transportation volume by road has kept increasing in China

  • Road freight transportation is relatively flexible, with fast turnover speed, convenient loading and unloading, and strong adaptability to various natural conditions, and therefore dominating the freight transport industry in China.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Freight Trucking in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The recovery of China's economy will promote future industry demand

  • The repeated COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in slower growth of China's economy, which was 2.2% in 2020 and 3.0% in 2022. Road freight transportation volume in China decreased by 17.6% and 5.2%, respectively.

Biggest companies in the Freight Trucking in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
S.F. Holding Co., Ltd.
5,282.5
CMST Development Co., Ltd.
5,011.5
Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd.
4,583.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 10 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Freight Trucking in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Medium-to-long distance freight transportation, Short-distance freight transportation and Long-distance freight transportation. Medium-to-long distance freight transportation is the largest segment of the Freight Trucking in China.

Trends and Insights

Short-distance freight transport carries a variety of flexible and fast trucks

  • Short distance transportation covers distances of less than 50 kilometers. ACMR-IBISWorld estimates that short-distance road transport of freight accounts for 30.0% of industry revenue in 2024.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry provides road freight and cargo transportation services using trucks, cars, trailers and other road vehicles.

What's included in this industry?

Common freight and special freight transport services by roadContainer transportation and special vehicle transport services by roadCarload freight transport and less-than-carload transport servicesInner city light-van transportationFurniture removal services by roadDelivery services for stores and restaurants by roadLogistic freight distribution services by road

Companies

S.F. Holding Co., Ltd.CMST Development Co., Ltd.Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd.

Purchase this report to view all 10 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FREIGHT TRAFFICFREIGHT TON-KILOMETERS (TON-KM)HIGHWAY LENGTH

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Road transportation undertakes the largest freight transportation volume. In 2023, road transportation represented 73.7% of the freight transportation volume and 30.7% of the...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Medium-to-long distance freight transportation account for the largest and uprising share. Medium-to-long distance transport mainly carries large-scale freight or containers ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

East China demands a large proportion of road freight services. East China has strong manufacturing industries, a highly developed highway system and large populations.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

This industry has a low concentration level. The four largest players are estimated to account for 12.0% of industry revenue in 2024.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Top enterprises have small market shares. This industry is very scattered, even if the top enterprise, the market share is small.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of S.F. Holding Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of CMST Development Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 7 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for S.F. Holding Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for CMST Development Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 7 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Government in China leads the industry development. There are multiple industry regulations guiding and standardizing the development of the Freight Trucking industry.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profitability for the Freight Trucking industry is relatively low. Intense competition and high operating expenses lead to low profitability of this industry.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Freight Trucking industry in China in 2024?

The market size of the Freight Trucking industry in China is $128.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Freight Trucking in China industry in 2024?

There are 64,642 businesses in the Freight Trucking industry in China, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Freight Trucking industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Freight Trucking industry in China has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Freight Trucking industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Freight Trucking industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Freight Trucking market in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Freight Trucking market in China are S.F. Holding Co., Ltd., CMST Development Co., Ltd. and Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd.

What does the Freight Trucking in China include?

Common freight and special freight transport services by road and Container transportation and special vehicle transport services by road are part of the Freight Trucking industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Trucking in China?

The company holding the most market share in China is S.F. Holding Co., Ltd..

How competitive is the Freight Trucking industry in China?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Freight Trucking industry in China.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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