Alibaba picks Royal Mail for UK deliveries

Alibaba, the Chinese online retailer, is using Royal Mail to offer improved delivery options to online shoppers in the UK.

AliExpress, Alibaba Group’s global retail marketplace for consumers, will offer Chinese exporters delivery within two weeks, much faster than standard international postage, as it directly links international airfreight with Royal Mail’s UK network.

Upon purchase and selection of the Royal Mail delivery option, items will be airfreighted to the UK to enter Royal Mail’s network for delivery through its Tracked 48 or First Class services.

Royal Mail will supply its 2D barcode labels for AliExpress shipments. In future, this will give customers access to tracking information on their parcels as they pass through key points of the delivery journey.

Richard Snowdon, director of Royal Mail International, said: “We are focused on our strategy of growing import and export volumes, and developing e-commerce solutions is an important part of that. China is Royal Mail’s largest import country partner, and Royal Mail’s new service for AliExpress further complements this important strategic partnership.”