Alibaba, China’s leading ecommerce company that is expected to list in the coming months, will invest HK$2.8bn ($364m) in Haier, the Chinese appliance maker, to expand its logistics and distribution network.

The tie-up between Alibaba and Haier comes as the explosive growth of ecommerce in China is sometimes hampered by patchy delivery logistics in the nation of 1.3bn people. The deal sent Haier’s shares in Hong Kong up 13.3 per cent yesterday.

Most of the funds will go towards establishing a joint venture with Haier subsidiary Goodaymart, a retailer that has 26,000 stores and distribution sites in 2,800 counties in China. The joint venture will focus on developing a China-wide network for delivering and installing appliances and other large goods, according to a statement from the companies.