DHL Express sees rise in heavyweight shipments in Asia Pacific as businesses circumvent unpredictability

DHL Express reported a 16% increase in Time Definite International Weight per Day in Asia Pacific (excluding China) from January to July 2026. This growth stems from businesses using express logistics to handle unpredictable supply chain disruptions, manufacturing bottlenecks, and fluctuating demand. High-value, technology-related cargo, engineering & manufacturing, and automotive are the primary drivers of heavyweight shipments, comprising two-thirds of the total weight.

In Asia Pacific, the technology sector leads with over 34% of heavyweight cargo, driven by investments in data centers for computing capacity, data storage, cloud services, and artificial intelligence. The automotive industry is also growing rapidly, with express logistics usage increasing by nearly 20%. Asia Pacific remains a critical trading hub, with significant growth in shipments from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Hong Kong.

These markets represent key trade corridors and strategic positions for high-value technology, industrial, and automotive supply chains. DHL Express has expanded infrastructure across the region and supports a robust aviation network of around 810 flights per day, helping to maintain production continuity and deliver shipments at definite times.