China is likely to become the world’s largest market for express services this year, lifted by the e-commerce boom and fast rural infrastructure development, according to Ma Junsheng, Director General of the State Post Bureau of China. He added that the government will support domestic delivery enterprises as they move to set up more service points in county-level markets and continue to expand in the nation’s vast western regions. China is the second-largest market for express services, behind the United States. Last year, more than 7,500 express companies were operating in China, compared with 5,327 in 2010. Also last year, 9.2 billion packages and letters were delivered in and from China to global destinations by Chinese and international carriers, according to the Beijing-based China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP). Ma expected China’s express sector to face more sophisticated and segmented markets. Since China’s state-owned Express Mail Service and FedEx Corp of the United States began to offer next-morning, next-day and third-day delivery services, and refunds for delayed packages a decade ago, China’s express market has been transformed from price-oriented to service-oriented. Ma said the internet will play a critical role in reshaping China’s postal, logistics and express markets. “With the rise of online shopping, China’s e-commerce giants are all in the process of applying for licenses to operate express businesses. Their participation will further upgrade the service level of China’s postal industry,” said Ma.