DHL Group to Invest €2 Bn by 2030 to Expand Global Healthcare Logistics Infrastructure

The investment will support infrastructure upgrades across all logistics touchpoints, including storage, fulfillment, global distribution, and last-mile delivery.

DHL Group has announced a €2 billion investment over the next five years to expand its global logistics operations in the life sciences and healthcare sector. Aligned with its “Strategy 2030,” the investment aims to enhance the Group’s capacity to meet rising demand across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, clinical trials, biopharma, and cell and gene therapies.

According to the company, 50 percent of the planned investment will go toward operations in the Americas, while 25 percent each will be allocated to the Asia Pacific and EMEA regions. The investment will support infrastructure upgrades across all logistics touchpoints, including storage, fulfillment, global distribution, and last-mile delivery.

Investment Targets Pharma, Clinical Trials, and Advanced Therapies

The Group will establish new GPD-certified Pharma Hubs to support multi-temperature shipment lanes, expand cold chain capacity at existing sites, and commission additional temperature-controlled vehicles. These enhancements aim to improve the delivery of sensitive products, including clinical trial materials and advanced biologics, which require strict temperature regulation.

DHL is also increasing investment in specialized cooling infrastructure to support low and ultra-low-temperature shipments, specifically for cell and gene therapies. The goal is to ensure the integrity and compliance of temperature-sensitive healthcare products during transit.

Cold Chain Expansion and IT Integration to Support End-to-End Healthcare Delivery

In parallel, DHL will implement advanced IT systems to provide real-time visibility across supply chains. These systems are designed to maintain product integrity and meet market regulatory compliance requirements. The integration of end-to-end monitoring tools is expected to improve accountability and delivery accuracy for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical firms.

The company has launched a new sector-specific brand, DHL Health Logistics, consolidating its healthcare logistics capabilities under a unified platform. This move is intended to offer integrated solutions for managing complex, cross-border supply chains in the life sciences sector.

“Similar to DHL Group’s purpose of ‘Connecting people, improving lives,’ our strategic investment in life sciences and healthcare is driven by our customers’ mission: delivering essential, often life-saving products to people in need,” said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain. “We’re building high-quality, integrated logistics solutions that are as innovative and reliable as the products our customers create – ensuring that patients everywhere receive the right treatment, at the right time, with complete confidence.”

Currently, DHL Group operates nearly 600 sites across approximately 130 countries dedicated to life sciences and healthcare, encompassing over 2.5 million square meters of temperature-controlled warehouse space.

As part of its ongoing expansion, the Group acquired CRYOPDP, a courier specializing in clinical trials, biopharma, and cell and gene therapies. The acquisition strengthens DHL’s Pharma Specialized Network and supports the broader logistics strategy targeting emerging areas in healthcare delivery.