DHL Group: Accelerating Trade Growth Across Africa

In a bold move aimed at accelerating trade growth, DHL Group has announced it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The initiative involves DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain.

It is hoped the financial injection will support the growth of hundreds of businesses in the region, while growing DHL's operational footprint.

A region of growth

DHL Group's €300m (US$350m) investment in Sub-Saharan Africa will expand infrastructure, enhance service capabilities and unlock new opportunities for businesses across e-commerce, perishables, energy and life sciences & healthcare.

While the region has already experienced rapid growth in recent years, further financial support from organisations like DHL is crucial. 

According to the latest DHL Global Connectedness Tracker, Sub-Saharan Africa was world-leading in H1 2025 in terms of its increasing trade value, which rose 10% year on year. This compares to 7% in North America and South & Central America and 5% in the Caribbean.

"Africa is at a pivotal moment in its trade journey," says 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."

September 2025 forecasts predicted that trade volume for Sub-Saharan Africa will grow an average of 4.3% per year from 2025 to 2029 – the second-fastest rate globally, behind only South and Central Asia.

Building better trade opportunities

The African Continental Free Trade Area is among the projects accelerating intra-African trade and boosting its trading position, opening new corridors to trading partners around the world.

It is ensuring cross-border flows are resilient and African businesses are able to connect to global supply chains, building their reach every day.

The investment from DHL Express will include the upgrading of gateways, with added aviation uplift and the extension of time-definite coverage into second cities. 

DHL Express will link these second cities more efficiently to Africa–Europe and Africa–Asia lanes, enhancing the growth seen in Ethiopia and Nigeria. 

Hennie Heymans, CEO at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said: "Our focus is to be closer to customers and make cross-border shipping simpler and more reliable.

"As trade expands, businesses are asking for predictable transit times, consistent delivery performance and support that understands local conditions. By raising the bar on service and proximity, we will help more African companies trade efficiently and compete on a bigger stage."

Meeting consumer demand

Part of Sub-Saharan Africa's growth includes investment in specific industries within logistics.

DHL Global Forwarding will:

• Support Africa's role in the global energy transition
• Grow cold-chain and perishables logistics for horticulture and agriculture exporters
• Scale expertise in life sciences and healthcare with specialised temperature-controlled transport

As demand for third-party logistics services grows within the South African market, DHL Supply Chain will offer transport-led solutions as well as the required capacity. 

With a specific focus on temperature-sensitive capability and fast-moving fulfilment, this sector will help with speed and efficiency as the region grows to scale.

Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO at DHL Supply Chain Middle East & Africa, said: "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 specialised, 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."

Each DHL division brings differing expertise when it comes to regional growth. 

Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa, adds: "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."

Through this investment, DHL Group is furthering its goal to connect the world. In the process, the company is growing the logistics sector and boosting its own position in the industry.