DHL Group shows confidence in India with investments of around EUR 1 billion in the country until 2030

According to DHL’s Global Connectedness Tracker (GCT), global trade remained resilient despite headwinds from tariffs. While negotiations with the U.S. continue, India’s combined merchandise and services exports grew 6.18% from April to August 2025. DHL’s GCT also showed goods traversed the longest average distance on record during the first half of 2025. The average distance of goods trade in India is also expected to reach 6,190 kilometers in 2025 (2024: 6,090 kilometers), as reflected in the growth of India’s exports to 24 countries spread across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas. These countries include, but are not limited to: Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Russia, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam.

India has long established a leading position in the life sciences and healthcare (LSHC) sector, becoming a global hub for contract manufacturing, research and development, and clinical trials. It is also a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals, producing over 50% of the world’s vaccines.

DHL’s solutions for the life science and healthcare sector in India include:• Time-definite international delivery World Medical ExpressPriority domestic and Air Express• Multi-modal transport solutions such as air, ocean, road and rail freight• Temperature-controlled warehousing solutions ranging from ambient to sub-zero• Free trade warehouse zone and customs-bonded service• Direct to patient and white glove services• Active and passive packaging solutions

Phase 1 of the COE will focus on inbound battery logistics into a Free Trade Warehouse Zone (FTWZ) in Chennai, and subsequently Mumbai in 2026. Phase 2 of the COE will focus on warehousing solutions for the battery aftermarket segment, and in-plant operations for gigafactories or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

India is firmly on the path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, with the logistics and e-commerce sectors poised to play a pivotal role in driving this growth. This investment reflects the Group’s deep commitment to India’s long-term potential and forms an essential part of our multi-year roadmap to accelerate expansion and digital transformation.

At Blue Dart, the investment will be channeled towards upgrading our infrastructure, network, and capacity, as well as expanding our last-mile reach and delivery centers nationwide. A key focus will be on automation and advanced technologies that enhance operational efficiency and support rapidly rising e-commerce volumes,” said Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart. DHL’s solutions for e-commerce players include time-definite international and domestic deliveries, customs clearance, DHL Fulfilment Network, and returns management.

Strategy 2030 also sees a new pillar for DHL Group: Green Logistics of Choice. The company’s sustainability goals are to reduce absolute CO2 emissions to 29 million metric tons by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. In India, the Group’s sustainability journey is focused on the electrification of its fleet with more than 700 electric vehicles. Blue Dart also recently launched India’s largest low GHG-emission integrated operating facility in Bijwasan, Delhi. The site features 600 kWp of rooftop solar capacity, which plays a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions and enabling cleaner, more sustainable energy usage across operations. Customers are also embarking on the sustainability journey, with more than 9,000 Indian customers already signed up on the GoGreen Plus program. GoGreen Plus integrates sustainability into air, sea, and road freight, and warehousing. The program directly reduces emissions within the supply chain using renewable fuels such as HVO 100 and bio-LNG, battery-electric vehicles, and sustainable aviation fuel, thereby offering customers the option to ship in a more sustainable manner. In 2024, GoGreen Plus reduced 1,598,000 tons of CO₂e, with more than 300,000 customers using the solution globally through the book-and-claim model. The book-and-claim model enables DHL to directly replace fossil fuels with sustainable fuels within the logistic company’s network and allocate environmental benefits to paying customers, even when their shipments are not physically transported with the assets using these fuels.

The Group has also made investments to continue building India as a hub for digital innovation and technology talent. Earlier this year, it opened its fifth DHL IT Services (ITS) center and the first dedicated technology training academy center in Indore. This adds to its strong presence in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The first dedicated training academy will see DHL employees equipped with skills in digital technologies, automation, artificial intelligence and leadership. With more than 1,300 digital and logistics experts, India is now one of the fastest-growing technology hubs within the DHL Group.

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”. DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.