Cainiao Tracking

Cainiao, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, has revolutionized cross-border shipping with its efficient, tech-driven approach to parcel delivery. Whether you're waiting on a package from AliExpress or shipping internationally, Cainiao tracking makes monitoring your parcels simple and reliable. In this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about Cainiao tracking—from number formats to shipment services and support channels.

Cainiao Tracking

Cainiao tracking allows customers to monitor their shipments in real time, offering updates on each step of the delivery process—from pickup to customs clearance and final delivery. The tracking tool supports domestic and international shipments, especially from major marketplaces like AliExpress, Lazada, and Tmall.

Users can track their Cainiao parcels using:

• Cainiao’s official tracking portal

• AliExpress order dashboard

• Third-party services

Tips for Tracking Cainiao Parcels

To get accurate and timely updates on your Cainiao package:

• Use the full Cainiao tracking number without spaces.

• Track through multiple platforms to cross-reference status.

• Be patient: Cainiao often consolidates shipments, which may delay initial scans.

• Use apps or browser extensions for real-time notifications.

How to Identify a Cainiao Tracking Number

Cainiao tracking numbers are usually provided by the seller or platform (e.g., AliExpress) upon shipment. You can find your number:

• In your order details

• In shipping confirmation emails

• Within the Cainiao or AliExpress tracking dashboard

Cainiao Tracking Number Format

Cainiao uses various tracking number formats, but most often:

• Starts with LP or UB, followed by numbers and letters

• Typical examples:

  • LP123456789CN

  • UB123456789SG

• Length: Usually 13–18 characters

These codes often indicate origin (e.g., CN for China, SG for Singapore) and the type of service used.

Cainiao Tracking Service

Once you enter your Cainiao tracking number, you will see all the essential information regarding your shipment in one place as you can see above.

Shipment Route:  When tracking Cainiao international shipments, the tracking information will include origin and destination countries.

Parcel Description: Tracking information will show the weight, dimension data and class of shipment service.

Days in transit: This is the number of days from when the courier accepted your parcel. It is not from when you ordered or sent the package.

Additional tracking number: For international shipments, Cainiao provides a last-mile tracking number.  This number allows you to track your parcel when it is with one of Cainiao’s international partners. If last-mile tracking number provided, the tracker will automatically request information from respective courier companies as well and will return the combined data.

List of Couriers: A list of courier companies involved in the delivery of your package. For international shipments, there could be two or more courier companies listed.

Cainiao Products and Services

Cainiao offers a range of shipping solutions designed to serve different logistics needs. Each service caters to a specific type of product, delivery speed, and budget, making Cainiao a flexible partner for global eCommerce.

1. Cainiao Super Economy

Cainiao Super Economy is a low-cost shipping service primarily used for lightweight and low-value items, especially on platforms like AliExpress. This service is ideal for buyers looking for the most economical delivery method.

• Key Features: Budget-friendly, primarily used for untracked or partially tracked items.

• Benefits: Keeps product prices low for consumers, used widely for promotional or under-$5 items.

• Tracking Details: Only includes tracking up to departure from the origin country. No delivery confirmation or updates after customs export.

2. Cainiao Super Economy Global

Cainiao Super Economy Global extends the economy service to international markets beyond the standard reach, offering broader geographic coverage while maintaining low costs.

• Key Features: International reach, optimized for global eCommerce.

• Benefits: Allows sellers to reach more countries with affordable shipping, suited for global micro-parcels.

• Tracking Details: Basic tracking up to export; tracking often stops at country entry point; final delivery confirmation is not available.

3. Cainiao Standard for Special Goods

Cainiao Standard for Special Goods is designed to transport sensitive or regulated items, including batteries, liquids, cosmetics, and magnetic materials, which are restricted in many postal systems.

• Key Features: Compliance-ready for restricted categories, safe packaging standards.

• Benefits: Enables legal, smooth international shipping of complex product categories.

• Tracking Details: Full tracking available from origin to destination, including customs clearance and final delivery status.

4. Cainiao Standard Express

Cainiao Standard Express offers a balanced solution between speed and affordability, targeting medium-value items and customers who want visibility without paying for premium courier services.

• Key Features: Faster than economy services, standard delivery times.

• Benefits: Great for regular buyers needing reliable shipment times without premium fees.

• Tracking Details: Full end-to-end tracking, with frequent status updates and delivery confirmation.

5. Cainiao Warehouse Service

Cainiao Warehouse Service provides sellers with fulfillment capabilities including inventory storage, order handling, picking, and packaging across Cainiao's smart warehouses.

• Key Features: Integrated warehousing, automated inventory management, fast processing.

• Benefits: Reduces seller workload, increases fulfillment speed, integrates with Cainiao's delivery network.

• Tracking Details: Internal tracking of warehouse handling, packing, and outbound shipping events.

6. Cainiao Global Express

Cainiao Global Express is the premium shipping service for time-sensitive or high-value goods. It offers enhanced speed and reliability with priority processing at every logistics stage.

• Key Features: Fastest delivery option, premium routing, customs prioritization.

• Benefits: Ideal for urgent or valuable items, ensures faster transit times and better customer experience.

• Tracking Details: Detailed, real-time tracking across all steps including dispatch, customs, handover to local courier, and delivery.

Summary Comparison Table

Cainiao International Tracking

For international deliveries, Cainiao Super Economy Global is by far the cheapest option; however, it is not the fastest and does not offer to track. For tracking and quicker delivery options, there are several other services, all the way up to Cainiao’s 72 hr guaranteed international shipping, with tracking. These services will cost more; however, for speedy delivery with peace of mind, these services are unrivalled. There will be an option to choose your desired service type at the checkout from shops such as AliExpress and eBay.

Cainiao Aliexpress Standard Shipping

Cainiao is a subsidiary of the Alibaba group, and so Cainiao works very closely with AliExpress. Cainiao is the leading courier for AliExpress, and the logistics company fulfills much of the demands of the online store.

If you are ordering small items from AliExpress, as mentioned above, there is the Super Economy Global delivery option. This service is the ideal options for small budgets when not in a hurry. Otherwise, for larger parcels, tracking and quick delivery, there are the more expensive options which can give you everything you need for your deliveries. Cainiao AliExpress shipping times can be as fast as 24 hrs within China and 72 hrs globally.

Cainiao Tracking Not Working or Showing Updates

There could be several reasons why tracking is not available or working correctly for your package. Please ensure that:

• You have given some time since you ordered your package. Most tracking systems require some time, 24 -72 hrs, before they start showing updates on your parcel.

• The tracking code you entered is correct

• If you are the recipient, please check that the tracking number the sender gave you is correct. If you fear they have sent you the wrong number, please get in touch with them to resolve this issue.

• The reference number is for an item sent with Cainiao and that the service user is a service which offers to track. If the service does not include Cainiao tracking, then there is no way to check the progress of the parcel.

How Long does Cainiao take to ship from China to the US?

Cainiao has set a goal of being able to chip globally within 72hrs. Some of Cainiao’s more expensive services this speed is available, and so a package could get from China to the US in as little as three days. More affordable services may take a bit longer, between 30 and 70 days, and these services may not include tracking. Therefore, there will not be that peace of mind available, if the package takes longer than expected. For important parcels, it is best to go for the slightly more expensive faster service which has Cainiao tracking services to ensure peace of mind and swift delivery.

Cainiao Restricted Items

Cainiao refuses to ship certain goods for health and legality. Banned items include but are not limited to:

• Perishables such as fresh meat and fish

• Live animals excluding some small insects

• Items which pose a health risk such as poisons and radioactive materials

• Indecent and illegal images

• Prohibited weapons such as firearms

• Explosives including gunpowder and fireworks

• Any substances banned by law such as drugs

Cainiao Contact Information

Cainiao has its headquarters in Hangzhou City, China.

Block B1
XIXI centre
No. 588 West Wenyi Road
Xihu District
Hangzhou city
PR China

Cainiao’s web site: global.cainiao.com

Cainiao History

Founded in May 2013 as a subsidiary of the Alibaba group, Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Ltd quickly became one of the biggest companies in China. It is also one of the biggest Unicorn companies in the world, that is a privately owned start-up valued at over one bn dollars. Its innovation has fuelled the company’s growth in delivery and improvements for efficiency. For example, in Cainiao’s 2018 investor presentation, they showed that the time for packages to clear customs had decreased from 2 or more days in 2013 to just 10 seconds.

Cainiao’s goals have always aimed at unifying an efficient, global delivery service. In 2020 one of their top ideas for this is the Xiao G automated delivery vehicle. This automatic “locker on wheels” will allow businesses and logistics companies to send parcels quickly and seamlessly between companies and jurisdictions. Cainiao dreams of unifying everything from labelling standards to customs information sharing. This project will mean that packages can travel across borders with a speed that is unrivalled by any single logistics company.

Cainiao is unique in this sense; it is not a traditional logistics firm with vans and lorries on standby. Cainiao is an open platform with a network ready to be accessed at any time by anyone. Therefore, Cainiao has many partners, over 3000, including the most significant international logistics companies like UPS and FedEx. These collaborations are how the company can offer 24hr delivery within China for as little as $0.30 and international 72hr delivery for $3 for a 1kg parcel. These prices and speeds are unmatched by any standalone logistics business.

Cainiao’s most recent victory has been their launch in South Korea. In South Korea, they launched their full end-to-end logistics and supply chain services for local businesses. Cainiao projects that this move should reduce delivery times in South Korea from 10-13 days to 5-7 days. This recent example shows the real efficiency of Cainiao’s services and how there is the ability to shrink the logistics world using Cainiao’s network system.

Cainiao’s data-driven approach in South Korea has allowed this massive reduction in delivery times and costs. By placing warehouses near seaports and airports, they have managed to reduce transport costs through simplification of the process. China is South Korea’s largest two-way trade partner. Cainiao will now handle the majority of this transport link with six planes and six ships traveling between the two countries every week.