Parts & Parcel

Driven by an increase in e-commerce, global parcel volume grew from 74.4 billion shipments in 2017 to 87 billion last year. On average, 23 parcels per person were shipped globally, and 2,760 parcels were shipped every second, according to the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index.

Collectively, China, the United States, and Japan lead the global growth with the three countries representing 83% of the increase in global parcel volume in 2018. Despite unprecedented global trade uncertainty, the report forecasts this figure will more than double within the next six years and reach 200 billion parcels by 2025.


The index also finds:

  • China’s parcel volume is four times that of the United States: China (50.5 billion), the United States (12.5 billion), and Japan (9.4 billion) represent the top countries for parcel shipping volume in 2018. China’s parcel shipments represent 59% of the total shipments in the index.
  • United States tops shipping revenue: The United States ranks highest in parcel shipping revenue at $118.9 billion. China ($91.3 billion) and Japan ($30.1 billion) follow.
  • Japanese residents receive the most packages but this has declined: Japan still tops per capita shipping with 74 parcels shipped per person in 2018, but this is down from 76 per person in 2017. Revenues generated by parcel shipments in Japan currently stand in the top three of all 13 markets studied as carriers negotiate more profitable rates.

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