- Logistics arm expands footprint across four countries, extending warehouse network
- Company explores hazardous goods storage as demand from Chinese exporters rises
Cainiao (菜鸟驿站), Alibaba’s logistics affiliate, has accelerated its European expansion, opening four new warehouses this year as it ramps up capacity to serve Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms and exporters.
The facilities, located in Daventry in the United Kingdom, Paris, Madrid and Rokitno in Poland, add to Cainiao’s growing overseas logistics network.
In Spain, the company has rented a 37,000-square-meter warehouse in Madrid under a 10-year lease, one of the country’s largest logistics property deals since 2025.
The Hangzhou-based company is also venturing into specialized storage. In Mannheim, Germany, Cainiao has launched its first European warehouse dedicated to batteries, a category classified as hazardous goods.
According to local media, the site required five months of preparation to meet strict local regulations covering construction permits, wastewater handling and fire safety.
It will support Chinese exporters of power batteries, energy storage systems and products such as e-bikes and robotic vacuum cleaners.
“Europe is a key market for our overseas warehouse and import business,” said Shuai Yong, vice president of Cainiao and head of its global supply chain unit.
Higher-value products
Shuai added that the new facilities will support exports of higher-value products including robotic vacuums and 3D printers.
Cainiao is also planning to deploy robot-assisted warehouses in Europe, using its in-house logistics technologies to improve operational efficiency.
The expansion follows a surge in demand. Cainiao said outbound volumes from its European warehouses rose 32% in the first quarter of this year.
The increase has been driven by what Cainiao said is the rapid expansion of Chinese cross-border e-commerce’s “semi-managed” model in Europe, alongside sustained demand for higher-quality consumer electronics gaining traction among European buyers.
Some facilities in France are reportedly running at full capacity as restocking demand surges for smart home devices, 3D electronics and auto parts.
Globally, Cainiao operates more than 50 overseas warehouses across 18 countries and regions, while also using its network to help European merchants access the Chinese market.
