DHL Group has announced plans to invest over €300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region of growing strategic importance in global trade. This long-term initiative, implemented across DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Supply Chain divisions, aims to expand infrastructure, enhance service capabilities, and create new opportunities for businesses operating in key sectors such as e-commerce, perishables, energy, and life sciences & healthcare.
Trade opportunities are increasing in Africa as regional integration gains momentum. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is forming a continental market that could deepen intra-African trade and open new corridors to the rest of the world. While progress is reliant on improvements in infrastructure and trade facilitation, cross-border trade flows remain resilient, and African businesses are increasingly integrating into global value chains.
According to the latest data from the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, Sub-Saharan Africa led all global regions in the first half of 2025 with a 10% year-on-year increase in the value of trade (in current U.S. dollars). North America followed with 7%, and South & Central America and the Caribbean with 5%. Current forecasts as of September 2025 indicate that the region’s trade volume is expected to grow by an average of 4.3% annually during the 2025–2029 period, making it the second-fastest growth expectation globally, after South & Central Asia.
John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, stated that Africa is at a critical point in its trade journey: “The African continent retains its resilience and momentum despite global fluctuations. Our investment reflects our confidence in Africa’s positive trajectory and our commitment to enabling trade flows that support inclusive growth. By strengthening our network and capabilities, we aim to make it easier for African businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, to compete on the global stage.”
Across DHL Express, the investment includes gateway modernization, increasing air freight capacity, and expanding time-definite coverage in secondary cities that are emerging as demand centers under AfCFTA. As the only integrated logistics provider with a dedicated air network in Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL Express will build upon recent expansions in Ethiopia and Nigeria to connect these cities more strongly to the Africa–Europe and Africa–Asia lanes.
Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, added: “Our focus is on getting closer to customers and making cross-border shipping simpler and more reliable. As trade expands, businesses demand predictable transit times, consistent delivery performance, and support that understands local conditions. By raising our standards of service and proximity, we will help more African companies trade efficiently and compete on a bigger stage.”
The focus of DHL Global Forwarding investments will be on strengthening key sector solutions that support Africa’s commercial growth. The company is expanding its capabilities in energy and industrial projects to support Africa’s role in the global energy transition and enhancing cold chain and perishables logistics for agricultural and horticultural exporters. Additionally, it is scaling up its competency in life sciences & healthcare with specialized temperature-controlled transportation. These improvements are built upon DHL’s robust freight network and customs expertise connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to Africa.
Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, commented, “Customers are facing changing trade dynamics and tighter regulations. Reliability and visibility are therefore more important than ever. We are strengthening our freight solutions with deeper local expertise and enhanced digital tools, allowing customers greater control over their shipments from origin to destination. The goal is simple: ensure predictable movement of goods and help customers capture growth opportunities where demand emerges.”
DHL Supply Chain will increase its capacity, focusing particularly on the transport sector and life sciences & healthcare. It will introduce additional temperature-sensitive capabilities to support critical flows in healthcare and provide fast-moving fulfillment solutions as supply chains mature. These steps come as demand for third-party logistics services continues to rise, particularly in the South African market.
Orkun Saruhanoğlu, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Middle East and Africa, stated: “As the South African economy gains momentum, supply chains are also becoming more sophisticated. We are seeing increased demand for specialized, outsourced logistics, particularly in life sciences & healthcare and the transport sector. By expanding our capacity, reinforcing our transport-focused solutions, and applying our contract logistics expertise, we will help our customers enhance service quality, manage risks, and scale with confidence.”
DHL is also investing in programs that broaden trade participation and support sustainable growth. Through its GoTrade initiative, the company provides SMEs with training and customs expertise to access international markets. In addition, it is piloting renewable energy and alternative fuel projects at its facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is advancing digitalization with AI-powered tracking, route optimization, and digital customs tools to reduce friction in cross-border trade.
With unparalleled coverage across all African markets, DHL Group remains uniquely positioned to connect the continent to the world and support its growth.
