DHL group is reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Chinese market, said DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer. Despite global economic headwinds, Meyer emphasized that China remains a vital part of DHL’s global strategy, with continued investments in facilities, e-commerce, and sustainability initiatives. “China remains a powerhouse of global trade and one of the most important markets for DHL Group,” said Meyer. “We will continue to invest in facilities and employees to grow business here as the manufacturing value chain in China is so deep and has such a capacity that it will remain indispensable. We have confidence in the Chinese market and our long-term commitment remains unchanged.” China's size, huge consumption demand and complete industrial and supply chains make the Chinese market competitive while the country’s continued opening-up will ultimately lead to an improved business environment, he said. Despite recent global economic challenges and trade tensions, including tariffs and protectionism, Meyer said China’s growth continues to outpace the global trade average, and its trade with regions like Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East is still growing fast.
“Even as some companies shift manufacturing outside of China, many still rely on Chinese components. The manufacturing chain in China is so deep and its capacities so vast that it will remain indispensable in the coming years,” he said. “The next ‘China’ is still China,” Meyer said. Joe Ngai, Chairman of consultancy McKinsey China, said there is no substitute for the Chinese market, either as a market for products or in terms of demand.
According to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), China contributes more than 60% to the economic growth of Asia, and 37.6% and 44.6% of the growth in trade in goods and in trade in services, respectively. DHL has made significant investments in China’s logistics infrastructure, including over CNY2 billion in recent years to upgrade and expand facilities across key economic regions, such as the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead, Meyer highlighted several key sectors where DHL anticipates significant growth in China over the next five to 10 years, including e-commerce, healthcare, automotive and green energy. China, the world’s largest EV manufacturer and exporter, is poised to play a central role in global decarbonization efforts, and DHL is positioning itself to support the logistics needs of the rapidly expanding EV sector, he said. “China is and will remain one of the most important markets for DHL Group. We want to be the bridge that connects China with the world and the world with China,” Meyer concluded, as reported by the China Daily.
