DHL Express has inaugurated its new €80m (US$94m) international hub at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain.
The facility was completed in under two years. DHL says it has a sorting capacity of more than 20,000 – more than seven times that of the previous facility – and is designed to accommodate the significant growth in the volume of international express transport operations that the company has experienced in recent years.
The facility highlights Spain’s strategic role for DHL as a bridge between Europe, America and Africa – key markets for SMEs.
Built on a plot of 29,000m², with 10,000m² of warehouse space and 3,000m² of offices, the facility will serve the entire Catalan territory, including the four provinces – Barcelona, Lleida, Girona and Tarragona – as well as the Balearic Islands and Andorra.
Mike Parra, the CEO of DHL Express Europe, said, “The new Barcelona hub is a strategic investment built for future growth, reinforcing our role in global trade and supporting DHL Group’s Strategy 2030: Accelerate Sustainable Growth. Designed as a strategic hub within our European network, it is equipped to adapt to an increasingly complex and dynamic global landscape.”
DHL Express reported a 30% growth in activity in Barcelona in five years, which it says was driven mainly by the rise in e-commerce. This growth was then followed by two years of stabilization amid a global slowdown in both international trade and global shopping.
The new facility is designed to accommodate the projected growth over the next 20 years, adapting to changes in shipment flows without disrupting operations.
According to the company, it was built with sustainability in mind, aligning with DHL’s goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with an intermediate target of reducing its CO2 footprint to below 29,000,000 metric tons by 2030. By that same year, it aims for 30% of the aviation fuel it uses to be SAF. DHL Express already claims to be the company with the highest percentage of SAF use in the industry.
The facility features a photovoltaic energy installation for self-consumption, and 37 electric chargers for delivery vans and aircraft assistance equipment have been installed. The infrastructure is pre-installed to expand to 100% capacity, ensuring that at least two-thirds of the site’s vehicles are operating without GHG emissions.
Additional measures include a gray-water recovery system, tools for controlling and managing the hub’s daily energy consumption, and the use of intelligent LED lighting with automatic programming and presence sensors.
Miguel Borrás, managing director of DHL Express Spain said, “The inauguration of these facilities is a source of pride and a reflection of our growth, our vision for the future and our strong commitment to excellence in service, innovation and sustainability. The new hub is an investment in our present, but above all, in our future and that of the vast Catalan business network that we have supported for years in its international expansion.”
In related news, DHL has announced that it will provide warehousing and fulfillment solutions for Cotswold Outdoor Group