DHL Supply Chain is expanding its data centre logistics network across Asia Pacific as the region prepares for a major surge in digital infrastructure investment.
The company said it is adding more than 160,000 square metres of dedicated warehousing capacity to support growing demand from hyperscalers and data centre operators.
The expansion comes as investment in artificial intelligence, cloud services and digital connectivity accelerates across the region.
DHL said more than 30,000 square metres of dedicated data centre logistics warehouse space is already in operation across Asia Pacific.
A further 130,000 square metres of committed expansion and built-to-suit development is planned in Malaysia and Thailand over the next two years.
The company said the investment would strengthen its ability to support complex data centre deployments across key regional markets.
Asia Pacific is projected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest data centre market by 2030.
DHL said the region is expected to attract around USD$800 billion, or approximately €730 billion, in data centre investment by the end of the decade.
The wider data centre logistics market is also forecast to grow from $23 billion in 2025 to around $35 billion by 2030.
The company said operators are facing growing pressure to manage tight construction timetables, cross-border supply chains and the movement of high-value equipment into active build sites.
Javier Bilbao, chief executive for Asia Pacific at DHL Supply Chain, said the region was entering a sustained period of major data centre delivery.
He said: “Market projections show Asia Pacific as the world’s next data center hub, with approximately USD$800 billion (~€730 billion) in data center investment expected across the region by 2030.”
Mr Bilbao said customers needed more than extra capacity as major projects move from planning into execution.
He added: “As the region enters this sustained phase of large-scale data center execution, customers need more than capacity; they need execution certainty.
“Our investments in dedicated infrastructure and advanced white glove capabilities are designed to deliver that certainty by combining precision, consistency, and speed in some of the region’s most demanding deployment environments.”
DHL said its expansion combines dedicated high-security warehousing with specialist service logistics for complex, multi-phase deployment programmes.
A key part of the investment is the upskilling of staff in advanced white glove handling and specialist technical services.
The company said this would allow critical preparation and integration work to move from live construction zones into controlled logistics environments.
White glove handling is used to move servers, equipment and critical systems under controlled conditions to reduce the risk of damage and delay.
DHL said these services include site survey reporting, route assessments, floor protection, cage management and verification of part numbers.
They also cover rack installation, component verification, area cleaning and completion reporting.
The company said its specialist technical services would help address the growing complexity of data centre logistics.
These include server rack frame assembly, mounting components, intra-rack cabling, functional testing and secure packaging for sensitive server equipment.
By carrying out more of this work in purpose-built logistics hubs, DHL said customers could reduce congestion on construction sites, lower installation risk and keep build schedules on track.
The Asia Pacific expansion follows a recent increase in DHL Group’s data centre logistics infrastructure in North America.
Amanda Rasmussen, chief commercial officer at DHL Global Forwarding and head of the Data Center Logistics Taskforce at DHL Group, said the sector was a strategic priority for the business.
She said: “Data center logistics is a strategic growth priority for DHL, driven by the rapid development of digital infrastructure and AI.”
Ms Rasmussen said DHL was building on its recent investments in North America while expanding further in Asia Pacific.
She added: “Building on recent investments in North America and now expanding further in Asia Pacific, we are mobilizing capabilities across the Group to deliver integrated, end-to-end solutions for every stage of the data center lifecycle.
“By drawing on our global network and specialist expertise, we enable customers to scale quickly, while ensuring the uptime, resilience, and precision these complex operations demand.”
DHL said the investments reflected its focus on data centres as a strategic growth sector.
It said the expanded network would help customers scale digital infrastructure across regions through integrated logistics support covering the full data centre lifecycle.