By Ayomide Otitoju
DHL Group has unveiled plans to invest over €300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), underscoring its long-term commitment to the continent’s fast-growing trade landscape. The multi-year investment will be implemented across DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Supply Chain to boost infrastructure, enhance service capabilities, and unlock new opportunities across key sectors including e-commerce, energy, perishables, and life sciences.
The initiative comes as Africa’s regional integration accelerates under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), creating a unified market with expanding global trade corridors. According to the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded a 10% year-on-year increase in trade value in the first half of 2025 — the highest among all global regions. Forecasts indicate trade volume growth of 4.3% annually between 2025 and 2029, second only to South & Central Asia.
“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 trade flows that drive inclusive growth.”
Under the plan, DHL Express will upgrade gateways, expand aviation capacity, and extend time-definite delivery services to emerging second-tier cities connected through AfCFTA. As the only integrator with a dedicated air network in SSA, DHL aims to strengthen links between Africa–Europe and Africa–Asia trade lanes, particularly in markets like Ethiopia and Nigeria.
“Our goal is to be closer to customers and simplify cross-border shipping,” added Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa. “By raising the bar on service and proximity, we can help African companies trade more efficiently and compete globally.”
DHL Global Forwarding will expand its presence in energy and industrial logistics, support cold-chain operations for agriculture exporters, and enhance temperature-controlled transport for life sciences and healthcare clients. The division will also integrate advanced digital tracking tools to improve shipment visibility and reliability.
Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa, emphasized the need for “reliability and visibility” in evolving trade patterns, noting that DHL’s expanded network and local expertise would help clients capture growth in emerging markets.
Meanwhile, DHL Supply Chain will grow its footprint in South Africa, focusing on the transport sector and healthcare logistics. According to Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Middle East & Africa, “We are seeing growing demand for specialized, outsourced logistics. By expanding capacity and leveraging our contract logistics expertise, we will help customers scale with confidence.”
Beyond logistics, DHL is investing in sustainability and SME empowerment. Through its GoTrade initiative, the company supports small businesses with training and customs knowledge to access international markets. It is also piloting renewable energy and AI-driven solutions to enhance operational efficiency and reduce emissions.
With its extensive presence across all African markets, DHL Group said it remains uniquely positioned to connect Africa to the global economy and power the continent’s next phase of growth.
