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Shenzhen Expands Drone Delivery Fleets

Shenzhen deploys commercial drone delivery fleets for food and beverages as China expands its low altitude economy. Operators have established regular delivery routes in major cities. Regulators temporarily suspended local drone flights ahead of the APEC summit.

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FILE PHOTO: People use their phones as a Meituan delivery drone carrying a package hovers above a pickup kiosk in a park, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China October 20, 2026. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

China expanded its low-altitude economy as drone deliveries surged nationwide, though operations in Shenzhen paused for the APEC summit. Civil aviation authorities reported 3.29 million registered drones by the end of 2025. Annual drone flight hours rose 69% to 45.3 million.