DHL expands North America data centre logistics network

DHL Group has announced the expansion of its North America data centre logistics infrastructure, adding 10 dedicated warehouse sites with more than seven million square feet of capacity set to go live in 2026, the company said.

The move comes as it responds to rising global demand for data centre logistics services driven by hyperscale and colocation operators, with the expansion aimed at accelerating deployment timelines through integrated, end-to-end logistics solutions.

The new facilities will provide white glove handling, rack pre-configuration, and specialised warehouse-to-site transportation designed to manage high-value IT equipment such as servers, networking systems, and power modules under controlled conditions.

By shifting integration and testing activities to secure warehouse environments, the expansion is expected to reduce onsite complexity, minimise delays, and improve installation efficiency for large-scale data centre projects.

The development comes as operators face compressed build schedules and increasingly complex global supply chains that stretch from manufacturing hubs in Asia to deployment markets in North America and Europe. DHL Supply Chain is also supporting construction logistics for large data centre campuses, focusing on maintaining precision and speed in project execution.

"Hyperscalers are creating the digital backbone of the AI era, and they are doing so at extraordinary speed. Our expanded North America footprint is purpose-built to match that pace – from high-security warehousing and configuration services to white-glove handling and 24/7 service-logistics readiness. Combined with deep integration across DHL divisions, we offer a single accountable partner that connects global supply flows with precise on-the-ground execution. That's what keeps large-scale data centre projects on schedule and resilient. And this marks only the beginning of our group-wide expansion in this fast-growing sector. North America – home to more than 40% of the world's data centres – is a first major step, with additional regions already scheduled for further capacity upgrades," said Hendrik Ventre.

According to an independent survey commissioned by DHL, 85 per cent of data centre operators prefer a single end-to-end logistics partner, although only 43 per cent currently have one. The findings also show that around 70 per percent rely on third-party providers for specific services, reflecting fragmented logistics setups, while 89 per cent consider having a single account manager very important.

The expansion is integrated with the DHL Global Forwarding network, which provides multimodal transport, customs expertise, and heavy lift capabilities for international shipments. The company noted that rising investments in regions such as Latin America and increased use of charter flights across major global corridors are further shaping demand for specialised logistics services.

"Data centre logistics cross oceans, borders, and regulatory regimes. Whether it's graphics processing units (GPUs) – the high-performance processors that power modern AI models – moving by air, power modules by ocean, or out-of-gauge components transported by engineered road solutions to remote build sites, customers depend on synchronised, secure, and time-critical execution. With our experts in industrial projects, dedicated charter capacity, and multimodal routing, we keep these high-value shipments on schedule end-to-end. The combination of scale, sensitivity, and speed makes this one of the most demanding global supply chains – and it is exactly where tight coordination across DHL's portfolio of businesses becomes a real advantage for customers racing to bring new capacity online," said Oscar dae Bok.