DHL boosts network of direct LCL services from the US to Asia

New direct LCL service from Seattle to Singapore reduces transit times by up to 14 days.

DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, has announced the launch of a new direct less-than-containerload (LCL) services from Seattle to Singapore serving as a gateway to 16 destinations in South Asia.

The new direct weekly LCL service will cover freight moving from Portland and Seattle and can reduce the overall transit time between the U.S. and Singapore by 12 to14 days compared to current service transit times. Danmar Lines, DHL Global Forwarding’s in-house carrier, operates the new weekly LCL service. With cargo shipped directly from Seattle to Singapore, customers can expect their shipments to arrive in Singapore within 25 days.

In the six years since the signing of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, exports of U.S. goods have increased by nearly 34 percent, with steady growth in exports of medical devices, machinery, and construction equipment. DHL’s latest LCL service will serve to bolster the significant trade volumes with Singapore – the United States’ 10th largest export market in the first three months of 2010, up from 11th place during the same time period in 2009.

Amadou Diallo, CEO, Africa and South Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, said: “While many major markets in the world struggled with negative growth rates over the last one to two years, South Asia as a whole managed a GDP growth rate of 6.3% in 2009. This speaks volumes of the resilience and ripeness of the region’s markets. DHL’s enhanced LCL services will provide customers in the U.S. the quality freight transport service they need to penetrate this increasingly important region effectively via Singapore.”

Sam Ang, CEO, Southeast Asia, DHL Global Forwarding, said: “Southeast Asia is home to a population of more than half a billion people that is growing steadily at 1.4% annually. As MNCs and SMEs alike are turning to ocean freight to enjoy greater cost efficiencies, DHL’s latest LCL service effectively enhances US businesses’ access to this new, fast-growing market with increasing demands for imports from around the world, especially the United States.”

Clas Thorell, Head of LCL Management Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, said: “DHL is focused on strengthening its logistics network both within and between continents to enable our customers to engage fully in the globalised economy.

DHL maintains top position in airfreight markets in Europe and North America

DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, has successfully defended its top position in the most important airfreight markets in Europe and North America. These are the results of the rankings just published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The results are based on the IATA-managed clearing accounts between airlines and airfreight service providers.

“The IATA ranking confirms that DHL Global Forwarding has sustained its position as market leader despite last year’s difficult economic environment,” said Hermann Ude, a member of Deutsche Post DHL’s Board of Management and CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight. “In 2010 we’ve benefited inordinately from the worldwide economic recovery, not least because of our strong presence in growth regions like Asia. We are also confident that in the months ahead we will be able to develop our business dynamically.”

As in 2008, DHL was also ranked the number one freight forwarding company in the US and Canada in 2009. DHL Global Forwarding has also recaptured the top position in the vital German market, which was temporarily conceded to a competitor the year before. In addition, the company again reached the number one position in Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and partly in eleven other European markets. And for the first time, the freight divisions in Ireland and Spain also managed to move up to first place. DHL Global Forwarding also secured further top rankings in Asia, namely in Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia.

“These good results show that we are on track. But with the world economy and the shipment volumes still not completely stabilised, we’ve continued our close monitoring of the markets – just to be prepared for eventual fluctuations,” said Michael Schaecher, Head of Global Airfreigt at DHL Global Forwarding.

After airfreight revenues dropped in 2009, IATA has registered a significant worldwide increase in the current year. In the first half of 2010, airfreight volumes rose by 17 per cent. IATA expects the whole aviation industry to achieve a profit of US$ 8.9 billion in 2010 – in June the calculated figure was only US$ 2.5 billion. The positive development is caused mainly by the booming markets in Asia and by changes in the currency markets.