DHL Express Portugal has opened a new 25 million euros station at Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. This terminal show the growing strength and ability of the business sector in northern region. This expansion will be the major step for DHL’s operations because the company continues to grow stronger across various industries.
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DHL Terminal At Porto
The CEO of DHL Express Portugal, José Reis, has emphasized the need of this new terminal to maintain growing with the business’s growth plan.
He said during an interview:
This infrastructure, and this expansion, aims to meet growth needs. We have been growing very consistently over the years. At the time, the facilities were designed with a capacity well above the business reality.
The original terminal at Porto Airport was established in 2012 with the idea of accommodating future growth. However, the constant growth in demand over the past decade has led to the terminal reaching full capacity.
Reis added:
In 10 years, we were able to exhaust the capacity of the facilities, which is why we are now making this investment.
New Terminal For North and Centre of Portugal
DHL’s new port will serve as a key hub for the North and Central areas of Portugal. The facilities have been built to handle both current needs and expected future growth.
DHL expects to average around 10% per year over the next 15 to 20 years. This proactive method ensures the port will meet the changing needs of DHL and the companies it serves.
The 25 million euros of investment was first reported in February 2023. This was huge growth since 2012 with a noticeable jump between 2019 and 2023.
Porto experienced a 13.5% increase in DHL’s operations during this time in particular which is proof to the dynamic business environment in that region.
Reis added:
Porto has grown by 13.5% from 2019 to 2023. This is very, very significant growth. Of course, all of this is the result of the dynamics of the business fabric in the North. DHL grows according to the dynamics of the business sector, and it is important to note and underline that the North has had a very, very strong dynamic.
He pointed out that DHL’s growth corresponds to the growth of the regional economy in areas such as fashion, automobiles, and consumer goods. The fashion and technology categories also play a major part in consumer purchasing in this area.
Enhanced Capacity And Efficiency Of Terminal
The new Porto port triples the facility’s total size to 18,000 square meters with 11,000 square meters of useful operating area. This increase greatly boosts DHL’s processing capacity.
It will allow the station to handle 6,500 import pieces per hour which is a 150% increase and 5,500 export pieces per hour with a 300% increase. The facility handles around 11,000 packages daily by providing quick service for both imports and exports.
The terminal plays a critical role in supporting international trade for Portuguese businesses because of the ability to manage up to 50 tons of cargo per day. The top countries of origin for imports processed by DHL in Porto are Italy, France, and the Netherlands, while key export destinations include France, the United States, and Germany.
DHL’s new terminal in Porto involves around 200 people and works with a fleet of 70 vehicles. The terminal also serves air cargo with two to three planes landing daily based on the day of the week. This is a significant growth from 2012 when only one plane was used.
Reis also added:
This is three times the number of planes we had in 2012, which is truly remarkable, and it describes the capacity of the North, the entrepreneurial capacity of the North.
Future Expansion Plans For Lisbon
The new terminal in Porto represents a major achievement for DHL in the North. Now the company is going to expand its operations in Lisbon. DHL is currently in talks with Lisbon City Council to spend 50 million euros in an additional facility at Humberto Delgado Airport.
This project is pending for approval because the new airport Luís de Camões is taking shape. He said:
We are currently holding meetings with Lisbon City Council, and we feel and understand that the municipality is very receptive to DHL being able to build these facilities at the current airport.
Reis expressed confidence that the investment in Lisbon is going to continue ahead adding that DHL plans to keep the new facility at Humberto Delgado Airport operating even after it relocates to the new Luís de Camões airport.
With further plans for expansion in Lisbon, DHL Express Portugal is set to continue its remarkable growth that ensures it meets the changing demands of both the local and worldwide marketplace.
