DHL expands Cold Chain Network with six new dedicated healthcare corridors connecting Europe and North America to Asia

The newly established corridors include Liège-Shanghai, Brussels-Shanghai, Brussels-Singapore, Cincinnati-Singapore, Cincinnati-Tokyo Narita, and Cincinnati-Seoul Incheon. Together, they strengthen connectivity between major pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and distribution hubs through DHL's growing temperature-controlled healthcare logistics network. The new corridors provide pharmaceutical customers with greater routing flexibility, access to temperature-controlled capacity and more consistent transit performance across key markets, helping reduce supply chain risk and protect product integrity.

Henk Venema, Global Head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding: "These new corridors further expand our Cold Chain Network into strategically important healthcare markets across Asia. They respond to customer demand for reliable connectivity between major healthcare markets while giving us greater control over critical quality parameters throughout the transportation process. This enables our customers to move critical healthcare products with greater confidence and reliability."

The newly launched corridors are supported primarily through DHL's expansive dedicated network with the majority of flights operating on DHL's distinctive yellow branded aircraft. Keeping shipments within the DHL network reduces handovers and gives DHL greater control over the cargo throughout its journey, supporting consistent and reliable handling of temperature-sensitive healthcare products. DHL deploys Boeing 777 freighter aircraft on its routes, offering three different compartments with dedicated temperature settings to optimally support the cargo's temperature requirements.

Cold Chain Network expansion

The new routes represent the expansion of DHL's Cold Chain Network, following the launch of the Brussels-Cincinnati air corridor earlier this year. The Cold Chain Network combines dedicated healthcare corridors, specialized operational processes, validated handling procedures and temperature-controlled infrastructure. The corridors support temperature-controlled shipments using specialized thermal-blanket solutions and validated operational processes designed to limit exposure to temperatures outside the required range during handling and transfer. 

Growth of DHL's global Health Logistics footprint

The new routes build on DHL Health Logistics' vision of creating an integrated Cold Chain Network designed to support the safe transportation of pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, clinical trial materials and other healthcare products across critical global trade lanes, using a combination of thermal blanket solutions and phase change materials to offer a controlled, cost-competitive logistics solution.

The new Brussels-Singapore and Cincinnati-Singapore corridors further strengthen Singapore's role as a key gateway within DHL's global healthcare logistics network. The launch builds on DHL Global Forwarding's recent announcement of expanded healthcare logistics investments in Singapore, including the future DHL Singapore Cold Chain Hub, which will further enhance healthcare connectivity across Asia-Pacific through dedicated 2-8° Celsius and 15-25° Celsius storage and handling areas combined with direct airside access.

At the same time, the new corridors expand connectivity from DHL's established healthcare gateways in North America. Cincinnati serves as a strategic gateway connecting U.S. customers with key pharmaceutical markets across Asia while complementing DHL's broader healthcare logistics capabilities, further strengthened through airside and off-airport investments to increase DHL's temperature-controlled handling and storage footprint. Additionally, at only 2.5 hours' drive from its Cincinnati air gateway, DHL Global Forwarding is further expanding its dedicated life sciences and healthcare facility in Indianapolis with increased 2-8° Celsius floorspace for operational activities and pallet storage.