DHL is to undergo a major expansion of its Japanese operations, investing 11 billion yen (EUR 69.7million) over the next two years to improve infrastructure, Klaus Zumwinkel, chair of Deutsche
Post, announced today on a visit to the country.The Deutsche Post carrier is to enlarge its distribution base at Kansai International Airportnear Osaka, Zumwinkel told journalists at a news conference. It also plans to establish a newinternational parcel distribution centre in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, and introduce automaticsorting equipment at Nagoya’s Central Japan International Airport.
The express company has opened 16 new service centres in Japan since 2005, mainly in theTokai and Hokuriku regions, and last year inaugurated the Chubu Gateway at Nagoya, a large customsclearance and bonded warehouse facility.
The Japanese announcement comes on top of yesterday’s pledge by Zumwinkel that DHL wouldinvest around EUR 57 million in South Korea, with a view to making Incheon international airport,west of Seoul, a key north-east Asian hub.
DHL is spending more than EUR 100 million in Asia Pacific this year to extend its regionalleadership. The operator is also looking at developing a road network in South-East Asia and aimsto increase revenues in the region in 2007 by 15-18%.
