DHL Express has signed a concession agreement with Incheon International Airport Corporation to invest €131 million in expanding its South Korean gateway.
The expansion of the gateway, next to Incheon International Airport brings commitments to the strategic hub to €161 million in total.
Since opening in 2008, shipment volumes have grown 45%, and the multi-year investment is expected to further support demand up to 2032.
The expanded facility will have a gross floor area of 58,700 sq m from 20,000 sq m, an increase of almost 200%.
It will be equipped with the latest technology for faster, more secure and efficient delivery handling processes.
Technical upgrades include fully-automated x-ray inspection machines, a four kilometre conveyor belt, automated sorters, magnetic speed controllers and full CCTV coverage.
The technology will increase the gateway’s handling volume for parcels and documents by over 150%.
Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific says: “With online retail sales in Asia Pacific expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2023, our latest investments in the Incheon Gateway will align our infrastructure to what Asia’s e-commerce generation needs for now and tomorrow.”
Byung Koo Han, country manager of DHL Express Korea says: “With one of the world’s highest rates of online shopping, and its trajectory to become the world’s third-largest e-commerce market after China and the United States by 2023, this Gateway expansion will create the foundation for e-commerce businesses to expand both locally and across the Asia Pacific region.”
