DHL Express said it has bolstered its aviation network and ground facilities with significant enhancements across Asia Pacific in the past year as it noted increased shipment volumes from the region.
Comparing the first three quarters of 2023 and 2024, DHL Express noted that it moved around 6% more shipments between Asia Pacific and the rest of the world this year, proving that Asia Pacific will continue to play a bigger vital role in global trade.
DHL Express noted that amplifying its regional connectivity and efficiency enables it to cater to "new poles of trade growth" emerging across the Asia Pacific driven by supply chain diversification and geographic tailwinds.
"Asia Pacific markets are facing significant growth boosted by diversification of global supply chains, structural tailwinds and e-commerce," said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.
"Thanks to our forward planning, we are well-positioned to respond to these shifts in demand with the timely and strategic enhancements we have made across the region. These enhancements also put us in an excellent position to support our customers during the traditional peak season where consumer e-commerce traffic will spike," he added.
Southeast Asia rising star in global trade
DHL Express said Southeast Asia is a "rising star" in global trade with its young and skilled workforce, several trade agreements, and focus on innovation — making the region attractive and one of the fastest-growing destinations for international traders looking to diversify their supply chains.
In the past year, DHL Express has expanded several key facilities in the region to keep pace with increased trade.
It upgraded the South Asia Hub, located by Changi Airport, Singapore, to accommodate anticipated volume growth, which stood at more than 20% in 2021 and 2022.
DHL Express South Asia hub is also home to five DHL-owned Boeing 777 freighters operated by Singapore Airlines under a crew and management deal.
In October 2024, DHL Express launched an advanced gateway in Kuala Lumpur to enhance Malaysia's status as a key sourcing destination, especially for the electrical and electronics manufacturing sector with an investment of around EUR60 million.
Peter Bardens, senior vice president for Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific, DHL Express, said the company take a proactive approach to continuously adapt its network and enhance its service quality.
Besides additional air cargo capacity, DHL Express has also commissioned two ground facilities in Adelaide and Newcastle in the last 12 months.
The company cemented its presence in Australia with a recently opened gateway in Adelaide, re-located nearer to the airport.
It said that the enlarged facility's peak facility handling capacity has increased fourfold and it improves transit times for outbound shipments to Asia Pacific, Europe and the UK by a day.
DHL Express has also established a new multi-million dollar service center in Newcastle that is more than 10 times larger than the previous site.
The company noted that additionally, it will also open a new gateway in Christchurch, New Zealand, as it further extends its footprint in the country.
Scaling network capacity in North, East and South Asia to accelerate trade.
Meanwhile, DHL Express said it has inaugurated its Hong Kong West Service Center to further enhance the special administrative region's connectivity as the city gears up to meet growing trade demand. The company cited the city as a "crucial gateway" for trade between mainland China and the rest of the world.
The facility can handle over 50,000 shipments a day and has earned the LEED gold status – a globally recognized green building certification program.
In the first quarter of 2024, DHL Express and Japan Airlines also strengthened their partnership with a wider air network connecting Japan, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei.
