Cainiao Logistics is a logistics company founded in China in 2013. Its main owner is Alibaba Group. The company has the technical capacity to handle millions of orders from Aliexpress and other marketplaces thanks to its numerous and huge warehouses. The number of Cainiao Logistics’ express delivery stations is also steadily expanding.
Cainiao Logistics – what kind of delivery
The original name of China Smart Logistics Network, which started operations on 28 May 2013. The name was later shortened to Cainiao Logistics. The logistics company is headquartered in Shenzhen.
Within five years of its successful launch, Cainiao Logistics has become one of China’s largest logistics companies. The organisation has been able to rapidly increase the number of orders handled thanks to sustained investment in the project from the Alibaba Group. In 2019, for example, Alibaba invested more than USD 3 billion in Cainiao Logistics.
- Cainiao Heavy Parcel Line;
- Cainiao Saver Shipping;
- Cainiao Standard;
- Cainiao Super Economy.
| Shipping Method | Estimated Delivery | Cost | Tracking |
| Super Economy | 30 – 50 days | Free to Low | No |
| Super Economy Global | 30 – 50 days | Free to Low | No |
| Super Economy for Special Goods | 30 – 50 days | Low to Medium | Yes |
| Standard For Special Goods | 20 – 40 days | Low to Medium | Yes |
| Expedited Standard | 20 – 40 days | Medium | Yes |
| Heavy Parcel Line | 30 – 50 days | Medium | No |
Parcel delivery times
Our logistics company has been successfully delivering parcels to Russia for many years. The delivery time can be one month or more. It is possible that Cainiao Logistic delivery will take around two months. Therefore it is not recommended to choose this shipping method if a parcel is needed in the near future.
The benefits of delivery
There’s no reason to doubt Cainiao Logistics’ reliability and stability, as the company is controlled by the Alibaba Group. We can highlight the following advantages of the service:
Low delivery cost. It compensates for such a disadvantage as a long delivery time;
Absence of irregularities in the packaging of parcels, their neat delivery;
Compliance with declared delivery terms;
Ability to track your order.
What are the Pros and Cons of Cainiao’s Shipping Methods
The primary advantage of using Cainiao shipping methods when shopping on AliExpress is cost savings. This shipping option is typically cheaper compared to other shipping options in the same category, but at the expense of speed.
Cainiao offers two of the most economical shipping options, Super Economy and Super Economy Global, but they may take up to 50 days to reach your doorstep. Additionally, the lowest shipping tier (economy) does not offer any tracking.
The trade-off with Cainiao shipping methods is that you get lower costs, but have to wait longer for your shipment and sacrifice tracking. Here are the key pros and cons of using Cainiao shipping methods:
Cainiao Shipping vs AliExpress Shipping
The main difference between Cainiao and AliExpress shipping is the management of the shipping process. Cainiao is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, while AliExpress handles the shipping methods directly. Despite not being physically involved in the shipment, AliExpress works closely with reputable global service providers to ensure that deliveries are both efficient and cost-effective.
AliExpress has established preferred partners to ensure smooth deliveries, including:
- Singapore Post (Singapore)
- Posti-Finland (Finland)
- UPS (United States)
- Direct Link (global)
- Correos (Spain)
- SPSR (Europe)
- DHL (Global)
The shipping services offered by Cainiao and AliExpress have some distinct differences. AliExpress shipping methods are generally faster and provide more detailed delivery estimates compared to Cainiao’s shipping methods, which have longer delivery times and a wider delivery range.
In terms of cost, both Cainiao and AliExpress offer economy and standard shipping options, with the possibility of free shipping depending on the item and destination country. However, tracking is only available for AliExpress shipments, while tracking for Cainiao shipments is only available for standard and special goods categories.
When comparing Cainiao Shipping and AliExpress Shipping, it is important to consider the trade-off between speed and cost. While AliExpress shipping is generally faster and more convenient, Cainiao shipping is often more affordable.
| Shipping Method | Estimated Delivery | Cost | Tracking |
| AliExpress Standard | 15 – 45 days | Free to Low | Yes |
| AliExpress Premium | 7 – 15 days | Low to High | Yes |
| Cainiao Economy | 30 – 50 days | Free to Low | No |
| Cainiao Expedited | 20 – 40 days | Low to Medium | Yes |
Cainiao tracking
Service provided by ordertracker.com
The tracking number of a Cainiao delivery
The format of a Cainiao tracking number typically includes letters and numbers and is between 10 and 20 characters long. It usually starts with two capital letters, followed by numbers. For instance: AA000 000 000 000. In some cases, the tracking number may end with two capital letters, particularly for Cainiao Super Economy, such as AA 000 000 000 CN.
Cainiao tracking statuses
- PENDING ACCEPTANCE BY THE CARRIER
- PENDING WITHDRAWAL
- CANCEL
- TRANSIT
- BOOK
- ARRIVED AT DESTINATION
- SECURITY CHECK FAILED
- INAUDIBLE
