China outlines digital and data-driven logistics network under 15th Five-Year Plan

China is moving to strengthen its national logistics network through better-connected infrastructure, data-sharing and common technical standards.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Transport have released a new Logistics Network Construction Implementation Plan. Approved by the State Council, the plan sets out measures to improve the logistics system by 2030.

The plan covers both physical infrastructure and the systems that support it. These include information networks, data systems, rules and technical standards. China also aims to improve connections between logistics hubs and major transport corridors.

A key target is to lower total social logistics costs to 13.1% of GDP by 2030. The authorities identified digitalisation, data-sharing and technical standards as areas requiring further development.

Six infrastructure networks

The logistics network is one of six infrastructure networks prioritised under China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026–2030. The other five are the national water network, a new power grid, a national computing network, next-generation communications networks and urban underground pipe networks.

The government views these networks as connected parts of a wider infrastructure system. Investment in the six networks and other priority areas is expected to exceed 7 trillion yuan in 2026. Digital systems are already being built into major transport projects.

Digital systems on the Pinglu Canal

The 134.2-kilometre Pinglu Canal in Guangxi is expected to begin operations in September. It will shorten the water route between parts of southwestern China and the sea by about 560 kilometres. Authorities estimate that the canal could reduce logistics costs for goods from southwestern China by between 18% and 30%.

The canal also includes a range of digital and communications infrastructure. Its monitoring system combines video cameras, vessel identification, radar and environmental sensors. Around 262 kilometres of high-speed fibre-optic cable have been installed, along with a dedicated 5G network and edge computing facilities.

Navigation trials have also used China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system, drones and sensors. These tools collect information on vessel movements, water conditions and distances between ships.

Expanding logistics data-sharing

Data-sharing is another part of the government’s plans. In 2025, the NDRC, National Data Administration and six other government bodies launched logistics data interconnection pilots in 16 cities. The participating cities include Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.

The pilots aim to connect information held by government agencies, logistics companies and different transport systems. These include ports, roads, railways and aviation. The programme is also intended to develop common standards and mechanisms for exchanging logistics data.

Reducing logistics costs

The new plan builds on China’s wider efforts to reduce the cost of moving goods across the economy.

In the first half of 2026, the value of goods entering China’s logistics system reached 181.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.1% from the same period a year earlier.

Total logistics costs stood at 13.9% of GDP. This was 0.1 percentage points lower than in both the first quarter of 2026 and the first half of 2025. The reduction was estimated to have saved about 70 billion yuan.

The new plan seeks to continue this trend by linking physical transport infrastructure with shared data systems, common standards and more coordinated logistics operations.