On 7 April 2025, the Dhl Group revealed plans to invest two billion euros by 2030 to enhance its logistics capabilities in the life sciences and healthcare field. The decision forms part of its Strategy 2030 industrial plan. As part of this initiative, the company has launched the Dhl Health Logistics brand, bringing together its pharmaceutical logistics expertise under a single name and offering end-to-end management of healthcare supply chains, including the most complex and cross-border cases.
Half of the investment will be made in the Americas, a quarter in the Asia-Pacific region, and the remaining quarter in the Emea area, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With this move, Dhl aims to strengthen its global presence by developing a logistics network that is increasingly close to the customers’ core markets. The funds will be used to expand and modernise logistics infrastructure across every stage of the supply chain, from warehousing and order fulfilment to distribution, international shipping and last-mile delivery.
The German multinational will pay particular attention to temperature-controlled transport, creating new Gdp-certified pharma hubs with multi-temperature corridors. It will also expand the capacity of existing cold chains and deploy refrigerated vehicles. In addition, Dhl plans to improve both passive and active packaging solutions to ensure sustainable and secure deliveries.
The plan responds to growing demand for logistics services in the fields of medical devices, biological medicines, clinical trials and advanced therapies, including gene and cell therapies. For these segments, which have stringent requirements for temperature control, traceability and delivery times, Dhl will build refrigeration infrastructure capable of handling ultra-low temperature ranges. Digitalisation will play a central role: the company will implement next-generation IT systems to ensure full shipment traceability, compliance with international regulations and maximum safety for patients.
The Dhl Group currently operates nearly 600 healthcare-dedicated sites, hubs and warehouses in around 130 countries, offering more than 2.5 million square metres of temperature-controlled space. This infrastructure will be further enhanced to increase the resilience and responsiveness of the healthcare value chain. Recently, Dhl acquired US-based carrier Cryopdp, a specialist in services for clinical trials, biotechnology and cell therapies.
In 2024, Dhl generated more than five billion euros in revenue from the life sciences and healthcare sector. With this new investment, the company aims to double its revenue by 2030, reinforcing its leadership in a high value-added market. “We are building integrated, high-quality logistics solutions that are as innovative as the products our customers develop, to ensure that every patient receives the right treatment, at the right time, with full confidence,” said Oscar de Bok, chief executive officer of Dhl Supply Chain.
