DHL expands data‑centre logistics
DHL is rolling out 10 dedicated North American sites and new automation tech to handle surging data‑centre demand — and its eCommerce JV with Correios de Portugal just received unconditional EU approval, opening deeper Iberian integration. The moves underscore logistics firms turning to specialised, highly automated hubs to win hyperscale tech contracts and protect service SLAs. ( )
DHL’s North America rollout will bring more than 7 million square feet of specialised warehousing capacity online in 2026 to support hyperscale and colocation deployments. (container-news.com) The group is fast‑tracking automation by adopting SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT® platform to accelerate robotics integrations—DHL says the platform lets it deploy integrations up to 12x faster and builds on a fleet of more than 8,000 collaborative robots in its global operations. (payloadasia.com) Executives framed the programme around AI‑era timelines: Hendrik Venter described the expansion as matching “AI‑driven demand” and enabling a single accountable partner across divisions, while Oscar de Bok emphasised speed, security and precision for coordinated global transport. (dcvelocity.com) The European Commission on 19 March 2026 unconditionally cleared the CTT (Correios de Portugal)–DHL eCommerce joint venture under the EU Merger Regulation, removing the principal regulatory hurdle identified by both firms. (ctt.pt) CTT and DHL estimate the JV will generate around €1bn in combined revenues and provide a combined daily parcel capacity exceeding one million shipments, and they expect to complete the transaction in May 2026 subject to approval under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation. (logisticsmanager.com) Operationally, DHL is shifting more rack pre‑configuration, white‑glove handling and controlled testing into warehousing to reduce on‑site risk, while linking those services to DHL Global Forwarding’s multimodal and heavy‑lift capabilities for end‑to‑end project logistics. (container-news.com)
