DHL Express announced that its Domestic Air Operations Center (HUB) expansion at Queretaro International Airport is 80% complete after nearly a year of renovations. This center, which represents a $120 million investment, will be the company's largest and most technologically advanced facility in Mexico and Latin America.

According to data analyzed by SiiLA, this marks the second expansion of the HUB in the past 14 years. It began operations in 2010 with a surface area of 2,319 square meters and expanded by 10,500 square meters in 2014. The latest expansion will add about 30,000 square meters, including 18,000 square meters of land and an 11,300 square meter industrial building.

The expansion process is part of a strategy to strengthen DHL's presence in Queretaro and significantly improve its delivery times, operational capacity, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) supply chains. In this regard, the German logistics company indicated that the new infrastructure will be able to process up to 41,000 pieces per hour, a significant increase from the 19,000 pieces per hour handled in 2021.

It is important to note that the HUB incorporates fully automated technology that simplifies production processes, increases service reliability, and accelerates package release. The new technological systems also enable more efficient handling of thousands of lightweight shipments in flyer bags and packages up to 30 kilograms. Furthermore, eco-friendly practices and technologies have been introduced to reduce water and energy consumption by 50% and 35%, respectively, and decrease CO2 emissions by 35%, aligning with DHL's GoGreen sustainability goals.

The HUB's expansion will also create about 200 new jobs, contributing to the economic development of Queretaro, whose strategic location allows DHL to make logistical connections with 23 cities and over 40 subregions, and improve its delivery services to the northern states of Mexico, where more than 50% of its national shipments are directed. Currently, from this HUB, DHL Express operates 12 domestic flights daily that connect Queretaro with cities such as Merida, Cancun, Monterrey, and Tijuana, in addition to one daily international flight to Cincinnati, United States. With the expansion, new air and land routes are expected to expedite deliveries in the Bajio-Central areas, as well as in the south and north of the country.

DHL in Queretaro: A Reflection of National Logistic Strategy

Since DHL Express arrived in Queretaro in 2010, its presence in the region's industrial market has become increasingly notable, with absorptions in significant distribution and logistics complexes such as FINSA Queretaro and FIBRA Uno's Queretaro Industrial Park, where it occupies more than 24,000 square meters of gross leasable area, according to SiiLA Market Analytics data.

The expansion and consolidation of DHL in Queretaro are not isolated events but part of a national logistic strategy that reflects Mexico's growing global connectivity. This strategy aligns with the "DHL Global Connectedness Report 2024" findings, which highlight Mexico as a key point in Latin America's logistic network.

According to the German company, Mexico ranks seventy-seventh among 181 countries analyzed in the global connectivity index. This indicates that Mexico maintains a high level of integration in the global economy, with a depth level of 46.5%, meaning nearly half of its economic activity is linked to international flows such as trade and investment, and a breadth of 55.7%, implying that Mexico has a vast and diversified network of international connections that reinforces its position as a significant logistic hub in Latin America.

Mexico's strategic position has been strengthened by the steady growth of foreign direct investment (FDI) over the last two decades, proving that the country remains an attractive destination for business projects, especially in the manufacturing and transportation & logistics sectors. This positive trend is evidenced by the latest expansion of the HUB in Queretaro, which will increase DHL's operational capacity in Mexico and consolidate the country's status as a critical technological and logistic center in North America, facilitating international trade and improving the efficiency of supply chains.

For more information about this and other topics related to the performance of the Mexican industrial market, explore SiiLA REsource or contact us at contacto@siila.com.mx.