DHL bets on PH SME exports amid global trade shifts

Insider Spotlight

• DHL Express says the Philippines is among the fastest-growing markets benefiting from global supply chain diversification
• The company holds about 60 percent of the Philippine express delivery market and is expanding key gateway facilities
• DHL and the Department of Trade and Industry aim to train 600 to 700 SMEs for export readiness this year

DHL Express Philippines is ramping up investments in infrastructure and small business support as global companies diversify supply chains toward fast-growing economies, positioning the Philippines as a key beneficiary of shifting trade flows.

In a press statement, DHL Express Philippines vice president for commercial Roderick Queppet said the country is part of the company’s Geographic Tailwind 20 (GT20), a group of high-growth economies expected to benefit from geopolitical changes and business diversification. 

The Philippines joins regional peers such as Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and India in the list.

The logistics firm is strengthening its domestic and international network to capture rising trade demand. DHL operates 10 facilities in the Philippines, including service centers and gateways in Manila and Cebu, while its global network spans 220 countries and 500 airports.

Why it matters

The company said it currently captures 60 percent of the country’s express delivery market and continues to invest in capacity upgrades. 

Recent projects include the relocation of its Cebu Gateway to a larger facility serving the Visayas and parts of Mindanao, alongside the expansion of its Manila Gateway to support growth in Calabarzon and North Luzon.

DHL’s hub-and-spoke operating model also allows shipments from the Philippines to reach the United States within two to three days, helping exporters access international markets more efficiently. 

The company added that 40 percent of its fleet is already electrified and is targeting a 70 percent electrified fleet by 2030.

The bigger picture

Beyond logistics infrastructure, DHL is intensifying efforts to help small and medium enterprises expand globally through its GoTrade initiative.

DHL Express GoTrade head Sarah Meinert said SMEs account for more than 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines and remain critical drivers of employment and economic growth. 

Through partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, banks and technology firms, the program addresses challenges involving financing, digitalization, market access and logistics.

As part of a memorandum of understanding with the DTI Export Marketing Group, DHL plans to train 600 to 700 SMEs this year. 

The company will also host the GoTrade Summit in the Philippines on Oct. 6 as an official Asean side event, targeting at least 600 MSMEs for hands-on export training and cross-border trade workshops. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma