DHL opened its new AU$20m DHL Express Melbourne Gateway facility at Melbourne Airport supporting five outbound trade lanes including New Zealand, mainland China, US, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The facility is expected to process more than 53,000 kg a day and covers a total of 14,800 sq m including a 5,300 sq m warehouse, 915 sq m office and 8,600 sq m of open areas.
The facility also features two X-ray machines for scanning shipments, three telescopic conveyors which double shipment uploading and offloading frequency, as well as an onsite LED panel to monitor flight information. Dedicated customs and quarantine offices are housed within the facility.
DHL Express Asia Pacific CEO, Jerry Hsu said, “I’m pleased to officially open our new Melbourne Gateway facility, which enables local businesses to trade with customers around the world. The newly minted China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and other established free trade agreements have enabled Australian exports with greater access to international markets. China is Australia’s largest export market for both goods and services, accounting for nearly a third of Australia’s total exports, and a growing source of foreign investment. Going by previous FTAs with countries such as [South] Korea and Japan, demand for Australian exports is only set to increase especially in the dairy, horticulture, mining and services sectors.”
Gary Edstein, Senior Vice President of DHL Express Oceania added, “We’re seeing strong growth in exports from Melbourne, hence the need to more than double our previous facility. Almost 30% of our Australian volume currently passes through the Melbourne Gateway, highlighting the trade requirements the Victorian state demands. This investment shows our commitment to offering Australian businesses with the highest quality express delivery service globally.”
