Amazon expands same-day delivery to more rural US towns

Amazon says it delivered more than 13 billion items worldwide same or next day last year and expanded free same- and next-day delivery to over 4,000 smaller US cities and towns, with grocery and everyday essentials making up a large share of those orders.

Amazon has expanded its fast-delivery operations and reported record same- and next-day performance last year. The company said it delivered more than 13 billion items worldwide on the same or next day, the third consecutive year it set a record. In the United States, Prime members received over 8 billion same- or next-day deliveries, a more than 30% increase from 2024. Amazon also reported a record 4 billion grocery and everyday essential items delivered same or next day and extended free same- and next-day service to more than 4,000 smaller cities and towns. Key details: - Amazon reported over 13 billion same- or next-day deliveries worldwide last year and said this was a record for the third straight year. - US Prime members received more than 8 billion same- or next-day deliveries, up over 30% from 2024, with groceries and essentials accounting for about half of those orders. - The company said it delivered a record 4 billion grocery and everyday essential items same or next day in the US and expanded free same- and next-day delivery to over 4,000 smaller cities and towns, where monthly rural customers nearly doubled. - The article notes this expansion intensifies competition with Walmart, which uses its network of more than 4,600 US stores to offer same-day delivery and has promoted ultra-fast options including drone deliveries. - The piece also reports Amazon expanded its Amazon Now service in 2025 to markets such as India, Mexico, and the UAE and is testing the option in the US and UK, and Business Insider has reported changes to Amazon’s logistics network including larger same-day warehouses, a 1DC distribution layer, and micro-fulfillment inside some Whole Foods stores. - The article states Amazon reported roughly $67 billion in net sales from online stores for the most recent quarter. Summary: The expansion of fast delivery and extension into smaller US towns increases direct competitive pressure on national same-day delivery networks. Undetermined at this time.