BEIJING — The performance of China’s logistics industry declined in December due to seasonal factors, new data showed on Jan 2.

The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) stood at 56.6 percent in December, down from 58.6 percent for November, the China Logistic Information Center said on its website.

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion from the previous month, while a reading below indicates contraction.

“The December LPI was still at a relatively high level despite the normal decline at the end of the year,” said the center’s deputy head He Hui.

China launched the index in 2013 based on data collected from more than 300 logistics companies.