DHL Parcel processed more than 200 million parcels in the Netherlands in one year. That is a doubling compared to 2019. The second major player in the e-commerce delivery market is growing to a turnover of 1.1 billion euros. The operating profit is largely used for network expansion: hundreds of millions are going towards the construction of 26 new CityHubs.
DHL Parcel announced last month an investment of 350 million over the next three years. In addition to the two previously announced central sorting centres, it is building 26 new CityHubs. The associated delivery fleet will be electric; this summer it will add 500 electric vans to the fleet, bringing DHL's total to 1,200 electric vans.
Alongside the investments, DHL announced that it will increase the pay of employed delivery staff over the next few years: from €12 to €14.25 by 2025. CEO Wouter van Benten: "DHL is thus reinvesting most of its result in further expansion and sustainability of its parcel network. Moreover, with the salary increase we show that growth and a good operating result may be reflected in the terms of employment."
26 CO2-neutral CityHubs
The 26 newly built CityHubs are part of a network of 136 branches. The CityHubs are located on the outskirts of all urban areas, from which an average of 90 trips per day depart, 60 of them during the day and 30 in the evening, with short routes passing 100 to 200 addresses. Because of their short distances, these routes can be carried out by electric vans, cargo bikes or other small vehicles.
The new CityHubs will be located in Almelo, Almere, Amsterdam, Amsterdam-East, Amsterdam-South, Apeldoorn, Breda, The Hague, Ede, Emmen, Geleen, Gouda/Waddinxveen, Groningen, Haarlem, Helmond, Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Hoofddorp, Leeuwarden, Leiden, Nijmegen, Roermond, Rotterdam, Tilburg, Utrecht, Zaandam and Zoetermeer.
According to DHL, all new buildings will take place according to BREEAM sustainability standards. The buildings are gas-free, equipped with solar panels and driven by an all-electric fleet.
Two new sorting centres
Meanwhile, the parcel delivery company is building two new sorting centres in Utrecht and Dordrecht. The Utrecht location will open this autumn. The premises in Dordrecht will follow in 2022. These locations will bring DHL's number of sorting centres in the Netherlands to 18.
Image: New building in Dordrecht. www. bedrijfsfotografie.nl
Image above: DHL's new sorting centre in Utrecht operational this autumn
