Evaluating Goods Delivery Performance in China's E-Commerce Export Trade: An Analytical Study of Merchandising and Manufacturing Industries
Lingyun Yu | Ma. Cora Biton
Discipline: production and manufacturing engineering
Abstract:
This study investigates the delivery performance of e-commerce export transactions in China’s merchandising and
manufacturing industries for the year 2022, encompassing data from 195,717 merchandising and 59,809
manufacturing enterprises. It evaluates how critical factors such as internet penetration, workforce size, number of
practitioners, digital infrastructure, and the Human Capital Index influence delivery efficiency. Employing a
comparative quantitative design, the study utilizes ANOVA and t-tests to assess significant differences across
enterprise profiles. Results reveal that enterprises with robust digital infrastructure and highly skilled labor
consistently outperform counterparts in delivery metrics. Notably, manufacturing firms exhibit a marginal advantage
in operational efficiency, likely due to sector-specific digital strategies and resource allocation. The findings
emphasize the vital role of digital transformation and human capital development in enhancing China’s e-commerce
export competitiveness. This research contributes to the discourse on cross-border trade logistics by offering evidence-based insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to optimize supply chain integration and delivery
reliability in the digital era.
References:
- Asakura, Y., & Sasaki, K. (2020). Logistics optimization in global trade: A time-sensitive delivery framework. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 15(4), 112–128.
- Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Chen, J. (2024). A study on the impact of cross-border logistics and online reviews on the performance of cross-border export e-commerce firms. Economics & Management Review, 3(1), 101–113.
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2022). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Fei, Y., & Ye, J. (2023). Post-pandemic logistics resilience in global trade: A Chinese perspective. Asian Journal of Supply Chain Research, 12(2), 88–104.
- Goss, A. (2020). Technological adoption curves in international trade. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 38(2), 201-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1625(90)90034-7.
- Liu, A., Osewe, M., Shi, Y., Zhen, X., & Wu, Y. (2022). Cross-border e-commerce development and challenges in China: A systematic literature review. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 17(1), 69–88. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17010005
- Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. (2023). China E-commerce Report (2022). Retrieved from http://opendata.mofcom.gov.cn/front/data/detail?id=B81C4D46AF081F881468B4E0E4830E20
- People’s Daily Online. (2024, August 29). Overseas warehouses facilitate efficient distribution of products sold on cross-border e-commerce. http://en.people.cn/n3/2024/0829/c98649-20211878.html
- State Council of the People’s Republic of China. (2024, May 30). Ministry of Commerce regular press conference [Press release]. MOFCOM. https://english.mofcom.gov.cn/News/PressConference/art/2024/art_f2bd0621f8354841893548c14aa61d54.html
- Tan, C., Li, M., & Wu, H. (2019). Contractual obligations in cross-border e-commerce: A legal-operational perspective. Journal of Global Trade Law, 7(5), 330-347. https://doi.org/10.1093/jgl/7.5.330.
- Tian, X., Yan, B., Zhou, X., & Yan, Y. (2025). Impact of logistics delivery performance on consumers’ future purchase behavior: Evidence from an e-commerce platform in China. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 50, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2025.101202
- Wang, Z., & Xiao, P. (2021). Dilemmas and countermeasures faced by China’s cross-border e-commerce under the impact of the epidemic. China Economic and Trade Guide, 3(5), 28–30.
- Yang, M., Wang, L., & Zhang, T. (2023). Evaluating digital resilience in e-commerce supply chains during crisis events. International Journal of Logistics Management, 34(1), 45–61.
- Yang, X., Chen, L., & Wang, Z. (2017). Sectoral divergence in digital transformation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing. Asian Economic Review, 41(2), 155-173. https://doi.org/10.1111/aer.1997.41.issue-2.
- Yu, X., & Biton, Y. (2023). Digital leapfrogging in emerging markets: A case study of China’s e-commerce exports. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 24(1), 78-95. https://doi.org/10.1002/jecr.20230012.
- Zheng, X.H. (2019). China’s cross-border e-commerce logistics dilemma and countermeasures. Contemporary Economic Management, 37(05), 51-54.