DHL Express continues to strengthen its network in France in response to an increase in international shipment flows and growth in e-commerce.
The company, which claims to be the leading express operator in the French market with a 30% share of business, is investing €8 million in new facilities in 2019 compared to spending of €7 million last year.
New depots are to be built in Annecy and Mulhouse, replacing existing ones which have become too small to handle growing parcel and packet volumes.
In southern France, the company plans to extend its air hub in Marseille with sorting capacity rising from 5,000 pieces per hour to more than 6,100 pieces/hour. Capacity is also set to increase at DHL Express' depot in Nice.
Last year, DHL Express' volumes were up 7% on the previous year and annual growth in 2019 is estimated at 6%. The company has made provision to hire close to 450 additional staff in France this year.
“For a number of years now, DHL Express has invested significantly in its French network. In a five-year period between 2014 and 2018, our spend on the modernisation and extension of our operating centres will have totalled more than €46 million,” noted the president of DHL Express France, Philippe Prétat.
“We occupy a leading role in the trade in goods which has taken off with online purchasing. In 2010, our deliveries in the B2C segment accounted for only 2% of the total. Today, it's more than one-third and represents more than 30,000 parcels daily,” he pointed out.
DHL Express France handles more than 36 million parcels annually and operates from 55 sites across the country. Its transport capabilities include 36 daily flights and a road fleet of 1,500 vehicles.
The company employs 2,745 staff serving a 30,000-strong active customer base. DHL Express France can also call upon a network of 5,000 pick-up points for parcels.
