DHL Group is investing more than €300m (US$350m) across sub-Saharan Africa to expand its logistics network and support growing regional trade. The multi-year plan will strengthen operations across DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain, targeting key sectors such as e-commerce, perishables, energy, life sciences and healthcare.
The move aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to increase intra-African commerce and improve the continent’s access to global markets. According to DHL’s latest Global Connectedness Tracker, sub-Saharan Africa saw the world’s highest year-on-year trade value growth in early 2025, up 10%.
“Africa is at a pivotal moment in its trade journey,” said John Pearson, CEO of 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. By strengthening our network and capabilities, we aim to make it easier for African businesses, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large corporates, to compete on the world stage.”
DHL Express will use part of the investment to expand its air network, upgrade gateways and extend time-definite delivery to emerging second cities. The upgrades are intended to make cross-border shipping faster and more reliable, particularly as demand grows under AfCFTA.
DHL Global Forwarding will enhance its freight operations in energy, agriculture and healthcare logistics, including new cold-chain and perishable services. These improvements aim to give customers greater reliability and visibility in supply chains connecting Africa with Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, added, “Customers are navigating shifting trade patterns and tighter regulatory requirements, so reliability and visibility matter more than ever. We are strengthening forwarding solutions with deeper local expertise and enhanced digital tools, giving clients clearer control of their shipments from origin to destination. The goal is straightforward: keep goods moving predictably and help customers capture growth where demand is emerging.”
DHL Supply Chain is expanding warehouse and transportation capacity in South Africa to meet rising demand for third-party logistics services. New facilities will focus on the healthcare and transportation sectors, adding temperature-controlled infrastructure and transportation-led solutions.
Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Middle East & Africa, commented, “DHL Supply Chain is expanding in South Africa as the economy gains momentum and supply chains become more sophisticated. We are seeing growing demand for specialized, outsourced logistics, particularly in life sciences and healthcare and across the transporter sector. By adding capacity, strengthening transport-led solutions and applying our contract logistics expertise, we will help customers improve service quality, manage risk and scale with confidence.”
Alongside its core investment, DHL is also expanding its GoTrade program, which provides training and customs support for SMEs entering international markets. The company is piloting renewable energy and digital tools such as AI-enabled monitoring and route optimizations to cut emissions and speed up trade flows.
In related news, DHL opens an innovation center in Germany