Economic Impact, Investment, News

DHL Reinforces Commitment to Malaysia’s Growth through Strategy 2030

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2025 – DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Malaysia through Strategy 2030 — a five-year roadmap to accelerate sustainable growth and expand into high-value sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, and new energy. Malaysia remains a strategic node in DHL’s global network, and is primed to benefit from global supply chain shifts and increasing trade flows. From left to right: Mario Lorenz, Managing Director for DHL Supply Chain Malaysia; Christopher Lim, Managing Director of DHL Global Forwarding Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei; Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei; Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director of DHL eCommerce Malaysia.

Deepening Local Presence Across All Divisions

Malaysia hosts four DHL divisions — Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain, and eCommerce — providing comprehensive logistics solutions including international freight, domestic delivery, warehousing, and e-commerce fulfillment. These are further supported by a regional IT data center and shared services hub. Since its entry in 1968, DHL has grown with the Malaysian economy and today employs over 4,500 people locally.

Capitalizing on Geographic Tailwinds and Investment Growth

DHL sees Malaysia as a top-20 high-growth market, citing the country’s RM378.5 billion in approved investments in 2024, with FDI accounting for 45%, led by the United States, Germany, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. DHL’s partnership with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), renewed in May 2025, continues to drive joint investment outcomes across eight states.

Key recent investments include:

  • The Kuala Lumpur Gateway (2024) — DHL Express’s largest investment in Malaysia at EUR60 million (MYR300 million)
  • DHL Supply Chain’s EUR131 million (MYR655 million) commitment through 2028 to expand warehousing and sustainability initiatives

“Trade has remained resilient across the region… we are in a strong position to respond with the timely and strategic improvements we made,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.

Strengthening Life Sciences and Healthcare (LSHC) Logistics

Malaysia is fast emerging as a medical device manufacturing hub, with 10 of the world’s top firms operating locally. DHL has over 30 years of pharma logistics experience and has bolstered its regional capabilities with the EUR500 million (MYR2.4 billion) investment and acquisition of specialty courier CRYOPDP in 2025.

“These MNCs are… shifting the focus beyond glove production to high-value advanced devices,” said Christopher Lim, Managing Director of DHL Global Forwarding Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

DHL’s healthcare logistics assets in Malaysia include:

  • Cold chain warehousing and delivery (DHL Supply Chain)
  • Cold room at KLIA (DHL Global Forwarding) — the only one compliant with WHO and GDP standards
  • Medical Express (WMX) for time-sensitive shipments (DHL Express)
  • Last-mile medicine delivery in partnership with Esyms (DHL eCommerce)

Driving the Energy Transition and Auto-Mobility Solutions

DHL is developing logistics solutions across eight new energy segments, including solar, wind, EV batteries, charging infrastructure, and hydrogen. Malaysia’s EV roadmap — via the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021–2030, National Automotive Policy 2020, and National Energy Transition Roadmap — aligns well with DHL’s strategy.

With over 800,000 vehicles sold in Malaysia in 2024[1], DHL plans to establish a local EV Centre of Excellence, complementing its existing 3PL services in auto-parts and distribution logistics.

Accelerating E-commerce Growth for SMEs and Enterprises

DHL remains bullish on Malaysia’s e-commerce market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.25% until 2029[2]. Through its GoTrade initiative, DHL supports SMEs with cross-border trading know-how. Since 2020, the programme has trained over 9,100 SMEs globally. In Malaysia, partnerships with MATRADE have reached over 2,000 participants via 18 workshops from 2023 to 2024.

Leading the Charge in Green Logistics

With the logistics sector responsible for 3.4 billion tons of CO₂e emissions annually[3], DHL has pledged net-zero emissions by 2050. Under Strategy 2030, it added “Green Logistics of Choice” as its fourth bottom line.

In Malaysia, DHL has introduced:

  • 74 electric vans and 9 e-scooters (DHL Express)
  • GoGreen Plus — a service enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions through sustainable fuels

To date:

  • Over 90,000 customers in Asia Pacific have used GoGreen Plus for international shipments
  • 180,000 tons of CO₂e have been mitigated through sea freight
[1] Malaysia vehicle market grows to new high in 2024
[2] Free Malaysia Today, 21 August 2024. 'Experts see positive outlook for e-commerce'
[3] DHL Global Forwarding Sustainable Logistics. Simplified Guidebook
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