DHL Group Commits Over EUR 300 M To Boost Trade Growth Across Africa
DHL Group today announced plans to invest more than EUR 300 M across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), reaffirming its long-term commitment to one of the world’s fastest-growing trade regions.
The multi-year investment will span DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Supply Chain, expanding infrastructure, enhancing service capabilities, and helping businesses across e-commerce, perishables, energy, and life sciences & healthcare reach new markets faster and more reliably.
The move reflects DHL’s confidence in Africa’s growth potential and its determination to enable the trade flows driving inclusive growth.
As Africa’s regional integration accelerates, opportunities for trade are rising. According to the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, Sub-Saharan Africa led all world regions in the first half of 2025 with a 10% year-on-year increase in trade value (in current US dollars), and trade volumes are forecast to grow by an average of 4.3% annually from 2025 to 2029.
“Africa is at a pivotal moment in its trade journey,” said John Pearson, CEO, DHL Express. “Despite global volatility, the continent continues to show resilience and momentum. Our investment reflects confidence in Africa’s trajectory and DHL’s commitment to enabling the trade flows that drive inclusive growth.”
As part of this commitment, DHL Express will upgrade gateways, add aviation uplift, and expand time-definite delivery coverage into fast-growing secondary cities. As the only integrator with a dedicated air network in Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL will strengthen connectivity on Africa–Europe and Africa–Asia routes, building on recent growth in Ethiopia and Nigeria.“
Our focus is on being closer to customers and making cross-border shipping simpler and more reliable,” said Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa. “By raising the bar on service and proximity, we’ll help more African companies compete globally.”
Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding will target growth in sectors powering Africa’s export expansion. Investments will enhance energy and industrial project logistics, cold-chain and perishables operations for agriculture and horticulture exporters, and specialized temperature-controlled transport for life sciences and healthcare.
DHL Supply Chain will add capacity in South Africa and expand transport-led solutions, particularly for the life sciences & healthcare and transportation sectors.
“We’re seeing growing demand for specialized, outsourced logistics as supply chains become more complex,” said Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Middle East & Africa. “By adding capacity and applying our contract logistics expertise, we’ll help customers improve quality, manage risk, and scale confidently.”
DHL is also investing in programs that expand trade participation and promote sustainability. Through its GoTrade initiative, the company supports SMEs with training and customs expertise to access international markets. Across SSA, DHL is piloting renewable energy projects and alternative fuel programs, and rolling out AI-enabled tools for monitoring, route optimization, and digital customs clearance to reduce cross-border friction.
With operations spanning every African market, DHL Group remains uniquely positioned to connect the continent’s businesses to global trade networks and enable the next chapter of Africa’s growth.
