DHL Express has unveiled an expanded Kuala Lumpur Gateway to better support businesses exporting out of and importing into Malaysia following a significant increase in international trade.

The new RM300 million (US$68.5 million) facility represents the company's largest local investment to date and forms part of its strategy to bolster intra-Asia connectivity. 

DHL said the upgraded Kuala Lumpur Gateway is three times larger than its previous location, covering 13,422 square meters.

It is also equipped with a fully automated sorting system, which is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Combining the two-kilometre-long conveyor belt and high-speed scanning system allows inbound and outbound shipments to be processed four times as fast and achieve a peak throughput of 10,000 shipment pieces per hour.

This translates to accelerated transit times and shorter delivery windows.

"We are on a well-planned track to continuously strengthen our network in robust economies. We see rapidly rising cargo volumes in Malaysia, which also shows massive potential for a sustained uptrend as the country emerges as a preferred omni-sourcing destination," said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

"The Kuala Lumpur Gateway enables our customers to better leverage import and export opportunities, especially via the facility’s busiest trade lanes, including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom," he added.