DHL is expanding its presence in Latin America with a new distribution centre in Buenos Aires,Argentina, and a warehouse in Callao, Peru, according to South American media reports.
Last week, DHL Express inaugurated its 1,700 sqm facility worth ARS 1.2 million (€0.4 million)in Barracas, a district in the south-east of Buenos Aires, to strengthen its distribution networkin the Argentinian capital. Through its strategic location, the centre guarantees more flexibilityin terms of international and domestic connections while extending the company’s coverage to moreclients. The site will employ 60 people, Argentinian media reported.
The new depot will service some 2,400 clients in Buenos Aires from the total of 6,500 in thewhole of Argentina with the capacity to deliver up to 3,500 shipments a day. The company’s otherdistribution centre in Mataderos will continue to service customers in the Greater Buenos Airesarea, Sergio del Casale, DHL Express managing director for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, toldthe Buenos Aires Herald.
The facility has two mechanised parcel sorting chains to manage efficiently the shipment flowfrom and to the loading vehicles and a security bunker with the latest technology guaranteeingsecurity of parcels.
“The inauguration of this facility is part of an investment in construction, infrastructure andtechnology during the next five years confirming the investment strategy as the basis for our clearleadership. Our efforts aim at continuing strong growth both on the international and domesticmarkets,” Casale stressed.
Looking ahead, Casale expects DHL Express to grow around 20% in Argentina indicating a strongrecovery in the country’s foreign trade sector. He added that the financial crisis in the US hashad a beneficial effect on small and medium-sized businesses in Argentina as it has forced them toseek out other markets abroad for their products.
In Peru, DHL Global Forwarding has invested $2 million (€1.6 million) in the construction of anew 7,000 sqm warehouse in Callao, the largest and most important port located west of Lima, thecountry’s capital. The installations should be up and running within two months. DHL expects itsturnover to increase 15% year-on-year in the country this year to a total of $65 million, thePeruvian news agency El Comercio reported.
