DHL Expands Shipping Presence in Memphis
The German company's existing and forecast shipping growth from Mid-South companies trading internationally and through e-commerce drove the $2.5 million investment in Memphis, according to a DHL statement.
DHL moved from an 11,000-square-foot facility to a 30,000-square-foot plant on Air Center Cove. The site can process more than 2,500 shipments hourly, the company said.
The DHL center operates as the local center for pickup, delivery and sorting operations of international shipments.
“Memphis is a top metro area for exports, and as a leading international shipping provider, we are keeping pace with the tremendous growth from the area’s global businesses,” John Fox, DHL general manager for the southeast United States, said in a statement. “This new facility will not only support customer shipment growth but will also allow for earlier delivery times and later drop-off times for international importers and exporters.”
The "state-of-the-art'' facility will handle a variety of shipments, including international small parcels as well as palletized and container freight. It features a large customer counter, expanded parking lot, and several dozen pick-up and delivery vehicles fueled by propane autogas.
Earlier this month, Memphis-based FedEx won the European Commission's approval to acquire Dutch firm TNT to establish the second-largest package shipping company in Europe.
The $4.8 billion acquisition will rank FedEx behind DHL and ahead of UPS in Europe.
