DHL grows French logistics footprint

DHL Group has announced plans to invest approximately €160 million in France between 2026 and 2027, reaffirming its long-term commitment to one of its largest markets in Europe.

The latest investment will bring DHL's total spending in France to nearly €900 million over the decade from 2018 to 2027, supporting the development of the country's logistics infrastructure and enhancing its industrial competitiveness.

The announcement was made during the ninth edition of the Choose France Summit, a flagship event designed to highlight France's attractiveness as an investment destination for international businesses.

The planned investment will be directed toward increasing logistics capacity, modernising infrastructure, and advancing decarbonisation initiatives across DHL's operations in the country. The move aligns with the Group's broader strategy to strengthen supply chain resilience and support sustainable economic growth in France and across Europe.

Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, said, “With this investment, we are strengthening our infrastructure, growing our capabilities, and accelerating our transition toward low-emissions logistics. This enables us to better support our customers' growth while contributing to France's competitiveness and sustainability ambitions. For customers who are serious about service and sustainability, DHL is the obvious choice. We have by far the highest share of sustainable aviation fuel and electric delivery vehicles in our industry."

As part of its investment programme in France, DHL Express will focus on fleet modernisation, vehicle electrification, charging infrastructure, operational equipment, and the continued expansion of its network and facilities.

DHL Global Forwarding plans to invest in alternative-fuel vehicles, upgraded cargo-handling equipment, and warehousing infrastructure to help reduce the environmental footprint of its operations. Meanwhile, DHL Freight will continue expanding its use of alternative-fuel vehicles and upgrading its facilities. Since 2018, the division has completed six real estate projects, with six more scheduled for delivery by 2030.

DHL Supply Chain will further expand its network of advanced warehouse facilities, particularly in strategic locations including southern Paris, Orléans, and Lyon, to meet growing demand for third-party logistics services across sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and e-commerce. The division also plans to strengthen its fourth-party logistics capabilities through its Toulouse control tower, providing end-to-end coordination across complex, multi-partner supply chains.

 A substantial portion of DHL Group’s €160 million investment will be allocated to sustainability projects as the company works toward its target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from logistics operations by 2050.

The initiatives include expanding its fleet of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), installing solar energy systems across logistics facilities, adopting lower-carbon fuels such as biodiesel for heavy-duty vehicles, and continuing the electrification of warehouse equipment alongside the deployment of energy-efficient building technologies.