(Yicai Global) March 20 -- China once again delivered more parcels than any other country last year, and this time dominated the top spot by delivering more than the United States, the European Union and Japan combined.

China commanded a 40 percent global market share in 2017 after delivering more than 40 billion packages, Ma Junsheng, director-general of the State Post Bureau, said in an interview on the sidelines of the National People's Congress, China's national legislature. Three-quarters of packages delivered in China were for e-commerce, he added.

Courier volume in China has risen at an average rate of 42 percent a year over the past decade, soaring as much as 47 percent over the past five years despite the already sky-high figure. Annual growth so far this year is 30 percent, Ma said, adding that he is confident the sector has a bright future.

Cross-border online shopping is one area with vast room for growth, he continued, saying six or seven million such parcels are delivered each day, or the equivalent to total deliveries seven or eight years ago. There are more than 700 million internet users in China and more than two billion in the world, so the sector has deep potential, Ma said.