Growth Trend of Chinese Enterprises' Overseas Warehouses in the Past 6 Years (2018-2023)

Overseas Warehouses: Key Logistics Nodes for Chinese Enterprises Going Global

As a crucial part of cross-border logistics, overseas warehouses have played an increasingly important role in the global expansion of Chinese enterprises. By storing goods in target market warehouses in advance, companies can significantly shorten delivery times, reduce logistics costs, and improve customer experience.

Significant Growth in the Past Six Years

According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and industry estimates, the number of overseas warehouses built by Chinese enterprises has grown rapidly over the past six years:

• 2018: Approximately 500, mainly in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.
• 2019: Approximately 800, a year-on-year increase of 60%, with rapid expansion in Southeast Asia and Europe.
• 2020: Approximately 1,100, driven by surging online consumption due to the pandemic.
• 2021: Approximately 1,500, boosted by the explosion of cross-border e-commerce.
• 2022: Approximately 1,900, as per Ministry of Commerce statistics covering major global markets.
• 2023: Over 2,200, with a growth rate of about 16%, slowing slightly but still expanding.

Between 2018 and 2023, the number of overseas warehouses grew at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 34%, indicating strong momentum.

Regional Distribution and Driving Factors

By region, North America and Europe remain the primary destinations, accounting for over 60% of the total. Emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are growing faster. Key driving factors include:

• Expansion of cross-border e-commerce: In 2023, China's cross-border e-commerce import and export volume reached 2.38 trillion yuan, with overseas warehouses serving as the fulfillment core.
• Logistics cost and time optimization: The overseas warehouse model can reduce delivery time from 10-20 days to 3-5 days.
• Policy support: China's Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly introduced policies to encourage overseas warehouse construction, lowering the entry barrier for enterprises going global.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite notable growth, overseas warehouses face challenges such as inventory management, local compliance, and rising operational costs. In the future, they are expected to upgrade toward intelligence and digitalization, while more companies will choose to collaborate with third-party overseas warehouse service providers to mitigate risks.