89.89 billion parcels and saved spines: Chinese couriers get exoskeletons and outpace last year by 4.3% in five months
Smart suits reduce physical load by 30% and lower back pressure by 50%, new aviation hubs expand the network, and holidays boost online shopping. China's delivery sector grows despite mountain trails and stairs.
As reported by CCTV+, according to data from the State Post Bureau, in the first five months of 2026, China's courier sector continued to expand, driven by numerous holidays boosting online consumption and the modernisation of courier networks. From January to May, 89.89 billion parcels were handled, up 4.3% year-on-year, including 82.87 billion express parcels, up 5.2% year-on-year.
In the economically developed Zhejiang Province in eastern China, the winding slopes of Mount Putuo had long posed a challenge for parcel delivery, forcing couriers to manually push tricycles uphill through exhausting climbs. However, recent upgrades have equipped couriers working on the mountain slopes with lightweight intelligent exoskeletons, which reduce physical strain by 30% and lower back pressure by 50%. Courier Wu Youji said: "This one weighs over 20 kilograms, and this one almost 40. Plus, they are very fragile. And there are many climbs and stairs along the way, equivalent to climbing three or four floors. After I put it on, the exoskeleton gives my legs extra support when climbing, so I don't get as tired and can move much more nimbly."
The opening of new hubs and routes has further expanded express delivery coverage. In May, the public international cargo terminal at Ezhou Huahu International Airport was officially put into operation. In addition, courier companies have activated the international functions of the Jiaxing Global Aviation Logistics Hub, continuously expanding the reach of the air transport network. A representative of the State Post Bureau noted: "The courier sector continues to expand, infrastructure is steadily being upgraded, services cover a wide range of scenarios, and new models and equipment are being introduced at an accelerated pace. This has led to a synchronous improvement in service quality and operational efficiency, and the sector's role in supporting the real economy is becoming increasingly significant."
China's State Post Bureau is the industry regulator. Mount Putuo in Zhejiang is a popular tourist destination with steep slopes. Exoskeletons are wearable devices that ease physical labour. The new aviation hubs in Ezhou and Jiaxing are expanding international delivery capabilities. The sector's 4.3% growth reflects not only increased volumes but also technological upgrading.
When a courier puts on an exoskeleton to climb a mountain with parcels, it is not just engineering. It is an acknowledgment that human labour should not be drudgery. Saving 30% of effort and relieving 50% of back pressure are numbers behind thousands of healthy couriers and their ability to work longer and better. China's delivery sector is growing not only thanks to holidays and new air routes but also due to care for people. And when a package from an online store arrives at the door in record time, behind it is not just logistics but an army of people whom technology helps go uphill — literally and figuratively.
