As global healthcare services become increasingly vital, DHL Group is making a major push to ensure the rapid and secure delivery of critical medicines and biological products. The logistics giant announced the creation of its DHL Health Logistics brand alongside a €2 billion investment commitment over the next five years to expand capabilities in life sciences and healthcare logistics.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Upgrade
The substantial investment will focus on ensuring efficient, reliable delivery of essential medicines, clinical trial specimens, and advanced cell and gene therapies. DHL plans to enhance high-quality infrastructure and technology across the entire supply chain—from storage and order fulfillment to global transportation and last-mile delivery.
A significant portion of the funds will establish new pharmaceutical centers certified under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, enabling multi-temperature transport corridors while upgrading existing cold chain facilities.
Specialized Solutions for Temperature-Sensitive Shipments
To address the growing needs of clinical trials and biopharmaceuticals, DHL will invest in high-specification refrigeration infrastructure capable of handling ultra-low temperature requirements. The company will also deploy new temperature-controlled transport vehicles and strengthen both active and passive packaging solutions to ensure sustainable delivery.
The investment includes development of comprehensive IT systems to provide end-to-end visibility and guarantee product integrity and regulatory compliance throughout the supply chain.
Global Expansion Strategy
DHL's medical logistics investment will be distributed across key regions: 50% in the Americas, 25% in Asia-Pacific, and 25% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new DHL Health Logistics brand consolidates the company's life sciences and medical expertise under a unified platform, simplifying complex cross-border supply chain management for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and healthcare clients.
"Our investment in life sciences and healthcare stems from our customers' mission to get products—especially those that can save lives—to the people who need them," said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain. "These high-quality, integrated logistics solutions not only innovate but give patients confidence they'll receive appropriate treatments when needed."
Existing Network and Recent Acquisitions
DHL Group currently operates nearly 600 life sciences and healthcare logistics sites across 130 countries, with over 2.5 million square meters of temperature-controlled warehouse space. The company recently acquired CRYOPDP, a specialist in clinical trial and biopharmaceutical logistics, further strengthening its capabilities in this sector.
This healthcare logistics strategy aligns with DHL's broader "Strategy 2030" initiative, positioning the company to meet growing global demand for specialized medical supply chain solutions.