Debate shrouds courier firms' 11/11 price rise

China's courier firms defended their recent move to raise prices of their delivery services for the upcoming Singles Day online shopping festival on Nov 11, which is also known as 11/11.

They said they were "forced" into the move to ease the pressure of the inevitable higher 11/11-related operational costs like transportation, human resources and raw materials.

Earlier this month, ZTO Express announced, without specific details, a price-rise, and said business volume in five to 10 days around 11/11 was expected to increase three to five times.