The expanded “Super Gateway” at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport can now process approximately 900 tonnes of shipments per day, compared with around 300 tonnes before the project.
The facility serves southern China and the Pearl River Delta, one of the country’s most important manufacturing, technology and export regions. DHL said the additional capacity would support cross-border trade, e-commerce and time-definite international express shipments.
More than 1,000 jobs are expected to be created through the expansion.
New daily freighter link to Europe
Alongside the Shenzhen investment, DHL Express has introduced a new dedicated Boeing 767 freighter rotation operating on the following route: Shanghai–Bangkok–Bahrain–Brussels–Shanghai.
The daily service adds up to 50 tonnes of airfreight capacity and strengthens DHL’s connections between China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
DHL said the flight would provide additional schedule flexibility and greater capacity for heavier consignments. It will also support the company’s Heavyweight Express service, which carries larger shipments through its time-definite network with door-to-door tracking and customs support.
The 50-tonne figure refers to the additional carrying capacity provided by the aircraft, while the Shenzhen gateway’s 900-tonne figure represents the total volume the sorting facility can process each day.
China remains central despite supply-chain diversification
The investment comes as companies continue to diversify their sourcing and manufacturing networks amid geopolitical tensions and changing trade policies. However, DHL argues that China remains a major centre for manufacturing, sourcing, innovation and consumer demand.
John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, said global supply chains were adapting to changing economic conditions, geopolitical disruption and evolving customer requirements.
According to DHL, demand is growing particularly among customers in technology, semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, data-centre infrastructure and new-energy industries. Many of these sectors continue to depend heavily on Chinese and wider Asian supplier networks, while their high-value or time-sensitive goods are particularly suited to express airfreight.
Official figures underline the continuing growth of China’s aviation logistics market. Mainland Chinese airports handled 21.86 million tonnes of cargo and mail in 2025, 9% more than a year earlier. International cargo volumes increased by 12.7%, while Shenzhen Bao’an Airport exceeded two million tonnes for the first time, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
DHL said the Shenzhen expansion formed part of a broader programme of investment in markets benefiting from shifting trade flows. The company has also identified India, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East as regions supported by what it calls “geographic tailwinds”.
