DHL Express expects historic 2020 peak for cross-border shipment volumes with 50% increase globally
DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, expects unprecedented online shopping, shipping volumes and an all-time high in e-commerce trade around the globe during the 2020 peak season. In Asia Pacific, the company is expecting up to 40% increase in cross-border shipment volumes, while in Thailand cross-border volumes are expected to increase by 30% this peak season.
Megatrends such as globalization and digitalization have an enormous impact on global trade. Meanwhile, the effects of Covid-19 on online shopping will result in higher volumes. This will particularly apply to the upcoming popular mega shopping days such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, 12.12 festival, Christmas shopping season, all through Lunar New Year next year.
“As the impact of Covid-19 generates a surge in cross-border deliveries, we are entering this holiday peak season with a high demand for express deliveries. Driven by pent-up demand and more time spent at home, this year’s holiday shopping experience will not be like before. This has not only impacted B2C retailers, as B2B e-commerce has also experienced a significant shift into the online world,” said Herbert Vongpusanachai, Managing Director at DHL Express Thailand and Head of Indochina.
“DHL Express continues to invest and strengthen our operations to ensure we deliver on our purpose of ‘Connecting people, improving lives’. We are fully prepared to handle our customers’ needs and make sure that goods are delivered as fast as possible - and Christmas gifts are being delivered to households all over the globe in time.”
Cross-border online purchases worldwide have increased by 21% from January to June compared with the same period last year and 85% of people globally are spending more time shopping online while 45% of millennials will continue to shop online more frequently, even post-pandemic. To manage the high demands of e-commerce shipping, DHL Express has strengthened its service through the addition of new aircraft and new routes, infrastructure investments, as well as innovative technology solutions:
- Six new Boeing 777F wide-body aircraft – four of these aircraft were put into service this year and two more units are expected in the next month. These six additional aircraft enable the company to carry out more than 3,000 additional intercontinental flights per year.
- Investment of approximately EUR 690 million between 2020-2022 to build or expand facilities in key growth markets of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong S.A.R. and South Korea.
- Investment of nearly EUR 60 million to bolster DHL Express’ air network in Asia Pacific with direct, new (e.g. Vientiane, Yangon), and frequent (e.g. Oceania) flight routes.
- iExpressByDHL, an international express shipping platform developed by DHL Express Thailand to simplify shipping processes for online merchants in Thailand to connect to customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the world.
The new aircraft, expanded infrastructure and new flight routes across Asia Pacific will help the company tackle the unprecedented growth in shipment volume and address the ever-growing demand for time-definite express deliveries. Meanwhile, iExpressByDHL makes it easy for e-commerce sellers to obtain quotes for international shipping and helps schedule shipments in just a few clicks, so they spend less time on logistics and can focus on taking advantage of the growth in e-commerce.
As one of DPDHL’s business units, DHL Express provides international door-to-door express pick-up and delivery services for parcels and documents for business and individual customers. Currently, DHL Express has 260 dedicated aircraft globally, connecting over 500 airports, delivering 262 million Time Definite Shipments annually for 2.7 million customers in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. In Thailand, DHL Express has operated since 1973, with approximately 40 daily flights to and from Bangkok Hub, Suvarnhabhui Airport, one of DHL Express’ regional hub and a gateway to Indochina.
