By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News | April 2, 2025
SF Express is ramping up its airfreight ambitions in 2025, with a strategic focus on expanding its oversized cargo capabilities through its air cargo division, SF Airlines. The move reflects a broader effort by parent company SF Holding to solidify its position as a dominant player in China’s competitive logistics landscape.
In its latest investor presentation, SF Holding outlined key growth targets for the year, highlighting plans to “rapidly expand in industrial large item freight” and achieve 30% growth in industrial freight volumes. The strategy places heavy emphasis on leveraging air cargo to meet rising demand from e-commerce, heavy industries, and international trade corridors.
Heavy Freight: The New Frontier
The shift toward larger cargo volumes aligns with evolving customer needs and emerging market trends. As supply chains grow increasingly complex, industries such as automotive, manufacturing, and renewable energy are seeking faster and more reliable options to transport heavier, bulkier goods across continents.
SF Express has responded by upgrading its large-item handling capacity, including investments in infrastructure, fleet expansion, and specialized logistics services to cater to oversized and industrial cargo.
SF Airlines: A Key Driver
SF Airlines, SF Holding’s airfreight subsidiary, continues to be the backbone of this logistics expansion. The airline recorded 9,100 international cargo flights in 2024, connecting over 100 domestic and international destinations. With operations centered around Ezhou Huahu Airport, China’s first dedicated cargo airport, the company has positioned itself as a key hub for transcontinental shipments.
As of last year, SF Airlines had opened 15 international cargo routes, facilitating over 1.2 million tonnes of air cargo, a record milestone for the company and a testament to the scaling demand for airfreight services.
The Ezhou hub, often referred to as “China’s Memphis,” is strategically located in Hubei province and was designed specifically to handle high-volume, high-speed logistics. Its seamless multimodal integration and digitalized customs processes have given SF Airlines a crucial edge in time-sensitive freight movement.
Financial Performance and Market Outlook
SF Holding’s express and logistics division recorded RMB 205.8 billion (approx. $28.5 billion) in revenue for 2024, up 7.7% year-on-year. The growth was driven largely by expanding airfreight volumes, robust domestic demand, and increased cross-border e-commerce activity.
With global logistics entering a new phase of specialization and speed, SF Express is positioning itself as a high-performance partner for industrial clients. The company’s move toward larger freight handling and broader international reach is not just an operational upgrade—it’s a strategic redefinition of its market role.
Aiming for the Skies—and the Future
Founded in 2009 with its first freighter and route, SF Airlines has evolved into one of Asia’s most aggressive airfreight players. Its ongoing investments in fleet modernization, international network building, and infrastructure at Ezhou signal a clear ambition: to become a central link in the global air cargo supply chain.
As geopolitical shifts and e-commerce demand continue to redefine freight flows, SF Express is betting big on airfreight—not just as a delivery mode, but as a growth engine for the future.
Maria Kalamatas is a senior correspondent for The Logistic News, covering aviation logistics, freight strategy, and supply chain innovation across Asia-Pacific and global markets.
