Cainiao to Deploy Robotic Warehouse Network in Europe and US, Total Overseas Warehouses Exceed 40

【Ebrun Exclusive】March 16th news: Cainiao recently announced that by 2026, it will deploy a large-scale robotic warehouse network in key markets including Hong Kong (China), the United States, and Europe to support the local shipping and delivery capabilities of multiple cross-border e-commerce platforms and merchants. As competition in global e-commerce fulfillment efficiency intensifies, this move is seen as a significant step for Cainiao to further strengthen its global logistics infrastructure.

According to the plan, this robotic warehouse network will be established in regions including Hong Kong (China), the Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, and the United States.

The warehouses will primarily utilize Cainiao's self-developed next-generation warehouse robots and AI scheduling systems. Compared to traditional automated warehouses, the new robotic warehouses offer improvements in both storage density and operational efficiency, capable of performing picking, transporting, and sorting tasks in higher-density storage environments, thereby significantly increasing order processing speed.

Shuai Yong, Vice President of Cainiao and General Manager of the Global Supply Chain Business Unit, stated that with the rapid development of AI technology, the company is accelerating the integration of AI and robotics within its global supply chain system to enhance logistics fulfillment efficiency and end-consumer experience. Currently, one of the company's key objectives is to increase the coverage of next-day and two-day delivery services in major markets such as Europe and the United States.

In fact, leveraging the cross-border demand from Alibaba Group's e-commerce ecosystem, Cainiao began building its global logistics network early on. In 2017, Cainiao established its first overseas eHub digital logistics hub in Kuala Lumpur, marking the starting point of its global logistics network construction. Since then, as cross-border e-commerce has continued to expand, Cainiao has gradually shifted its strategic focus to overseas infrastructure development.

After 2020, Cainiao's cross-border logistics entered a phase of heavy asset investment, systematically building a global network of overseas warehouses. By integrating multiple warehouse service providers and gradually establishing its own warehouse system, the company has formed a multi-tiered warehouse layout in regions including Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Currently, its global warehouse network spans over 10 million square meters.

While expanding its robotic warehouse network, Cainiao is also developing more service capabilities to meet the new demands of cross-border e-commerce. For example, the company is accelerating the construction of large-item overseas warehouses to fulfill the logistics needs for bulky goods such as furniture and home appliances. Additionally, Cainiao offers global factory loading services, enabling end-to-end logistics from factories worldwide to overseas consumers. Furthermore, the company's warehouse system supports various operational models such as bundled shipments, raw goods warehousing, and secondary assembly within the warehouse. By optimizing packaging and warehouse processes, it helps merchants further reduce overall logistics costs.

To date, Cainiao operates more than 40 overseas warehouses across 18 countries. As the robotic warehouse network gradually rolls out in European and American markets, Cainiao's global logistics infrastructure is expected to be further upgraded, strengthening its competitiveness in the cross-border e-commerce logistics sector.

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