The Chinese Ministry of Transport is aiming to cut logistics costs throughout society by 300 billion yuan (about 41 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, it said at a press briefing on Friday.
The ministry will speed up the construction of major projects it has listed for improvement of the national comprehensive multidimensional transportation network next year, Vice Minister of Transport Li Yang told the press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.
"We expect to cut logistics costs of the whole society by 300 billion yuan (about 41 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, which will bring strong support to the growth of the real economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Transportation is a part of the logistics costs for the whole society, which mainly include transportation costs, storage costs and management costs. We hope that by giving play to the advantages of the integrated transportation system and promoting the shift of freight transport from roads to railways and waterways, we can better contribute to reducing costs, upgrading quality and increasing efficiency," said the official.
In 2025, the Ministry of Transport will promote further reform of the integrated transportation system, advance reform of the railway system, and accelerate the development of general aviation and the low-altitude economy, the official said.
China aims to cut logistics costs by 41 billion USD in 2025: official
Governments at all levels across China are promoting consumer goods trade-ins and industrial equipment upgrade with preferential policies and subsidies, bringing about significant growth in home appliance sales and equipment production. So far this year, the trade-in policies have brought a total sale of one trillion yuan (about 137 billion U.S. dollars) nationwide, and boosted production of trade-in-related goods like new energy vehicles (NEVs) and home-use freezers.
In Shanghai, in addition to the eight categories of nationwide subsidized products, like refrigerators, television sets, and computers, the local government introduced extra subsidies for additional home appliances, as well as interior materials, furniture, elderly-friendly products, and more to meet local needs.
According to statistics, Shanghai's trade-ins of home appliances have exceeded 6.4 million times, boosting trade of the eight categories by 30 to 40 percent compared to last year's statistics, and the total sales of home appliances on all platforms exceeded 10 billion yuan (about 1.37 billion U.S. dollars).
In central China's Hubei Province, the local government is providing subsidies unlimited times for passenger vehicles trade-ins, expanding subsidized kitchen and bathroom appliances, and involving interior goods and materials to the list, benefiting consumers in over 4.5 million transactions and bringing a total sale of 50 billion yuan (about 6.8 billion U.S. dollars).
In the first three quarters, industrial equipment upgrade policies have stimulated investments in equipment and tools, featuring a 16.4 percent year-on-year increase, with food manufacturing, agricultural products processing, and metal smelting equipment production increasing by 38.1 percent, 34.6 percent, and 13.2 percent, respectively.
In addition to consumer goods, governments at all levels have been actively offering allowances and providing guidance for companies to upgrade appliances and technologies to facilitate domestic consumption "We have applied for nearly 50 million yuan (about 6.8 million U.S. dollars) funding for equipment upgrades. With active advertising and mobilization, we encouraged local advantageous companies in machinery and medicine and health to apply, and provide guidance for them on company digitalization and technology upgrade," said Yu Biao, deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Xinchang County in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province.
Companies are also benefiting from the policy, and many are pursuing expansion with government allowances.
"We have benefited from the 'one-time pre-tax deduction policy for equipment and tools under 5 million yuan (about 680,000 U.S. dollars)' and reinvested additional funds for the Phase II expansion. As a result, the annual processing capacity has increased from 80,000 tonnes to 130,000 tonnes," said Tang Kaibo, general manager of Liaoning Lvyuan Renewable Energy Development Co., Ltd.
Local governments promote trade-ins, equipment upgrade with policies, subsidies
