Logistics costs accounted for 17.8 per cent of China’s Rmb47,160bn GDP last year, compared with 18 per cent in 2010, according to a report issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

Logistics costs increased 18.5 per cent year-on-year to stand at Rmb8,400bn in 2011. Spending on the transportation of goods rose 15.9 per cent to Rmb4,400bn, while storage costs rose 22.6 per cent to Rmb2,900bn.

Since last October, reported Xinhua, the State Council has campaigned to boost China’s logistics capabilities and better link producers and consumers to cut intermediary costs.