Redelivered Package Rates Decreasing at a Sluggish Pace in Japan
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan has announced that the predicted redelivery rate for parcels in the country in fiscal 2025 is 8.4%. This rate is based on data analyzed from 3.1 million parcels, with over 260,000 requiring redelivery.
The redelivery rate has been decreasing across urban (9.3%), suburban (7.9%), and rural areas (7.0%), with improvements since a peak of about 15-16% in 2018-2019. This decline is partly attributed to diversified delivery methods, such as unattended delivery options and delivery lockers.
Despite efforts like the advancement of unattended delivery services to reduce redelivery, the MLIT's more ambitious target of 7.5% for fiscal 2025 remains challenging to achieve. The redelivery rate plummeted to 8.5% in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is now falling again, driven by the diversification of delivery methods such as the use of delivery boxes.
It is worth noting that the volume of parcel deliveries in Japan has generally been on an upward trend, with the exception of the year after the 2008 financial crisis. In fiscal 2023, 5 billion parcels were handled, which is roughly the same level as the previous year.
The MLIT conducted the survey on parcels, and the data for parcels in April 2025 will be provided by the Ministry. The survey analyzed 3.1 million parcels, making it a comprehensive study of the redelivery rate in Japan.
Despite the predicted decrease in the redelivery rate, meeting the MLIT target of 7.5% for fiscal 2025 may prove difficult. The decline in redelivery is a positive sign for the efficiency of the parcel delivery system in Japan, but efforts to further reduce the rate will continue to be a focus for the MLIT.
[1] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) survey on parcels. [2] Redelivery rate data for parcels in April 2025 to be provided by the MLIT. [4] The decline in redelivery is partly attributed to diversified delivery methods, such as unattended delivery options and delivery lockers.
- The continued decline in the redelivery rate for parcels in Japan, as mentioned in the survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), has implications for the transportation, finance, and industry sectors, as more unattended delivery options and lockers could reduce the need for photo documentation and subsequent redeliveries, potentially reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.
- In the realm of finance, the predicted decreasing redelivery rate and the growth in parcel deliveries (despite a dip in the year following the 2008 financial crisis) suggest a positive trend for the e-commerce industry in Japan, as a more efficient delivery system might encourage increased online shopping and foster a flourishing digital economy, inviting further opportunities in transportation, logistics, and related industries.
