Founded in 2013, Cainiao is a global leader in cross-border e-commerce logistics.
Cainiao was incubated within the world’s largest e-commerce ecosystem fostered by Alibaba. The Company has built a global smart logistics network and tirelessly innovates to meet the complex, rapidly evolving demands of e-commerce logistics.
Cainiao’s leading technology capabilities and deep e-commerce insights set it apart, enabling it to become a leader in each of its business segments. Cainiao was ranked No 3 last year in the premium e-commerce logistics segment with a 16 per cent share (JD Logistics was ranked No 1 in that market segment last year with a 36 per cent share, and SF Express had the No 2 spot with a 20 per cent share in the same period).
While Cainiao continues to directly serve merchants on marketplaces within the Alibaba ecosystem, Tmall Global and Tmall Taobao World, and is the principal logistics service provider for the AliExpress ecosystem, it is also free to build business elsewhere.
Operations
Its global cross-border e-commerce logistics solutions cover cross-border express delivery, global supply chain, and overseas local services. Through its disruptive solutions such as “10-day global delivery” and “5-day global delivery”, Cainiao helps small and medium-sized enterprises engage in cross-border trade. Delivery speed is a point of competition among Chinese e-commerce firms as such, Cainiao has started to roll out its half-day express delivery service in eight major Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen, as it ratchets up efforts to help stimulate domestic consumption amid the country’s gloomy economic outlook.
The company has just begun its global five-day delivery service in the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and South Korea, where consumers can receive their parcels within five working days of placing an order on AliExpress.
Cainiao operates logistics facilities in strategic locations around the world, serving over 200 countries and regions, with its technology DNA ingrained into every aspect of the network. Through “Cainiao Post” solution, it also built the largest digital “pick up, drop off” network in the world.
Cainiao's ESG initiatives are deeply embedded in every element of the logistics value chain, revolving around five focus areas, namely green logistics, customer experience, community services, emergency logistics and high-quality employment.
Its revenue from Alibaba accounted for about 30% of its total revenue for the three years ended March 31, 2023 and three months ended June 30, 2023. Cainiao serves over 100,000 merchants and brands and delivered more than 1.5 billion cross-border e-commerce parcels in its last fiscal year.
Sea freight
As parcel volume to South Korea from AliExpress, the global retail online marketplace owned by Alibaba, increased by nearly +100% in the second half of 2021 Cainiao opened up direct sea freight route from China to South Korea. Freight ships chartered by Cainiao sail six times a week, allowing Korean consumers to receive parcels in three to five days for selected products after placing orders on AliExpress. After leaving ports in Shandong Province, the cargo ship arrive in South Korea within 12 hours, reducing existing shipping costs by up to -30%
Air Freight
China’s Hainan Island, which serves as a free trade port due to relaxed tax policies, serves as the companies international cargo hub.
The company also has a strategic plan to implement global smart supply chain technologies in Hainan constructing the largest smart warehouse on the island, equipped with over 100 AGV robots, developing a digitized logistics system to shorten the processing time from 3 minutes to 70 seconds, providing full-chain logistics services for local duty-free shop Global Premium Plaza, and expanding warehouse space in the island’s bonded zone to 150,000 square meters.
Looking ahead, Cainiao is committed to delivering faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly services to merchants and consumers across the world. Alibaba plans to spin off Cainiao via a global offering of Cainiao shares, comprising a Hong Kong public offering and an international offering in the near future.