TL;DR: DHL Express has opened its EUR 177 million Shenzhen Super Gateway at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, with full operations expected to scale up in the second half of 2026 – the company’s largest single investment in mainland China to date. The 22,000 square metre facility will bring daily processing capacity to approximately 900 tons – roughly triple the previous level. A new daily Boeing 767 freighter route connecting Shanghai, Bangkok, Bahrain and Brussels adds up to 50 tons of daily air cargo capacity. Over 1,000 jobs are set to be created in Southern China.
DHL Express has committed EUR 177 million to its Shenzhen Super Gateway. That figure exceeds 1.2 billion yuan. It is DHL’s biggest single investment on the Chinese mainland to date, and it signals where the company expects freight volumes to grow through 2030.
The facility sits at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport in Guangdong province. Construction began in 2022. The gateway covers 22,000 square metres and is set to come into full operation during the second half of 2026. Once operational, daily cargo handling capacity will reach approximately 900 tons – roughly triple the previous level.
Shenzhen Super Gateway: Scale, Technology and Jobs
The facility is built for throughput. Automation sits at the heart of its design. DHL has equipped it with high-speed sorting systems, robotic arms, automated guided vehicles and automated storage to maintain consistent throughput on time-critical shipments. Shenzhen sits at the heart of China’s southern export economy, and the upgraded gateway is designed to absorb rising volumes from cross-border e-commerce platforms and time-critical express customers.
DHL projects the facility will bring more than 1,000 new roles to the region as headcount scales alongside throughput. The gateway is also expected to support new cargo routes from Shenzhen to major global destinations as operations scale up.
New Boeing 767 Freighter Route Adds 50 Tons of Daily Capacity
Alongside the Shenzhen expansion, DHL has launched a new daily Boeing 767 freighter service. The route connects Shanghai, Bangkok, Bahrain and Brussels in a single intercontinental loop. It adds up to 50 tons of daily freight capacity on key trade lanes between China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
The new freighter route also supports DHL’s Heavyweight Express offering, delivering end-to-end shipment visibility, customs expertise and reliable transit times for larger consignments. It also repositions DHL’s network to reflect shifting trade flows between China and Europe, with stops covering significant import and export markets. DHL connects more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.
China Strategy: Sectors, Trade Shifts and the 2030 Plan
DHL has positioned China as a central pillar of its global growth ambitions, pointing to strong expansion in sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and cross-border e-commerce, as well as the country’s growing role as a source of innovation and demand alongside its established strength in manufacturing. The Shenzhen investment targets growth sectors including new energy, life sciences and healthcare, and cross-border e-commerce – areas that form the core of DHL’s 2030 strategy in China.
DHL’s 2030 growth strategy in China coincides with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, 2026 to 2030. DHL has identified 20 priority countries for investment focus, with China among them. The China push follows similar commitments in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and India, all regions DHL sees benefiting from shifting trade patterns. According to DHL, the company is deploying AI, robotics and data analytics across its China operations to improve supply chain visibility and operational efficiency.
Editor’s Analysis: What This Means for Independent Freight Forwarders
When a carrier of DHL’s scale triples gateway capacity on a major trade lane and adds new intercontinental freighter routes, capacity availability on China-Europe and China-Southeast Asia corridors shifts. For SME freight forwarders, the expansion means more routing options and greater capacity access on these corridors – provided their operations can act on short-cycle rate windows. New infrastructure does not help if the quoting process is slow.
The broader trend is clear. Foreign investment in China is rising. China’s inbound investment pipeline remained active in H1 2026, with close to 4,800 foreign-funded enterprises adding capital and new foreign-invested enterprise registrations climbing 5.3% year-on-year. Cross-border e-commerce, new energy cargo and life sciences shipments are growing. Independent forwarders who can quote these lanes quickly and book direct are best placed to win. Find out how Cargo Solutions Network supports SME freight forwarders on key China trade lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did DHL invest in the Shenzhen Super Gateway?
DHL Express invested EUR 177 million, equivalent to more than 1.2 billion yuan, in the Shenzhen Super Gateway. It is the company’s largest single investment on the Chinese mainland to date.
What is the planned daily cargo handling capacity of the Shenzhen facility?
Once fully operational, the Shenzhen Super Gateway is set to handle approximately 900 tons of cargo per day – roughly triple the previous capacity at the site.
What is the new DHL freighter route and what does it add?
DHL launched a daily Boeing 767 freighter service connecting Shanghai, Bangkok, Bahrain and Brussels. The route adds up to 50 tons of daily air cargo capacity on key China-to-Europe and China-to-Middle East trade lanes.
Which sectors is DHL targeting with its expanded China capacity?
DHL is focusing on new energy, life sciences and healthcare, and cross-border e-commerce. These are core to DHL’s 2030 growth strategy in China, which coincides with the 15th Five-Year Plan period running from 2026 to 2030.
How many jobs will the Shenzhen Super Gateway create?
The expanded facility is set to create more than 1,000 jobs in Southern China as operations scale up once the gateway becomes fully operational in the second half of 2026.
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