DHL Express expects shipment volumes in the Philippines to continue expanding in the coming years, with stronger intra-Asia trade, supply-chain diversification and growth in technology-related industries helping drive demand for cross-border logistics.
The Philippines is among 22 economies globally that DHL has identified as markets expected to grow faster than others, according to Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia-Pacific. Nine of those economies are in the Asia-Pacific region, including six in Southeast Asia.
“The Philippines [is] one of them,” Lee said during a DHL GoTrade Summit media briefing Tuesday. “We do see that in the next few years, these 22 countries…will be moving and running faster than the rest.”
The outlook comes as companies reassess their supply chains and market exposure amid geopolitical uncertainty, creating opportunities for logistics providers as trade flows become more diversified.
DHL Express Philippines Managing Director Nigel Lockett said the trend is already visible in the company’s shipment data. Volumes from the Philippines to the United States and Canada remain strong, while inbound and outbound shipments within the Asia-Pacific region have recorded a “marked increase.”
Lee said intra-Asia trade is “growing very, very well,” pointing to the broader shift toward companies serving a wider range of markets and building more diversified supply networks.
For the Philippines, DHL sees several industries contributing to further volume growth, including technology, data-center logistics, new energy and life sciences.
The company currently serves about 5,900 customers in the Philippines and handles more than 9,200 shipments a day. Micro, small and medium enterprises account for about 87% of its customer base, with DHL adding roughly 900 to 1,000 new MSME accounts annually.
DHL estimates that it holds about 60% of the Philippine express delivery market and operates 352 retail outlets nationwide.
The company’s growth expectations, however, are tied not only to Philippine demand but also to the broader expansion of trade within Southeast Asia.
“We’re seeing a lot of business growing in the rest of ASEAN,” Lockett said.
For Philippine exporters and smaller businesses, that regional expansion could provide a wider customer base, while continued supply-chain diversification may support demand for faster and more reliable cross-border delivery services.
