DHL Express Opens Expanded Kuala Lumpur Gateway to Cater to Trade Growth in Malaysia

• The new facility is the largest DHL Express investment in Malaysia, to date
• The gateway is triple the size of its predecessor and can handle four times more shipment volume
• First fully automated sorting DHL Express gateway in Southeast Asia, further supporting intra-regional trade

DHL Express has unveiled an expanded Kuala Lumpur Gateway to better support businesses exporting out of and importing into Malaysia following significant increase in international trade. The new RM300 million (EUR60 million) facility represents the company’s largest local investment to date, and forms part of its strategy to bolster intra-Asia connectivity. 

Standing at 13,422 square metres, the enhanced Kuala Lumpur Gateway is thrice the size of its previous premise. It is also the first of its kind in Southeast Asia equipped with a fully automated sorting system. Combining the two kilometre-long conveyor belt and high-speed scanning system allows inbound and outbound shipments to be processed four times as fast, and achieve a peak throughput of 10,000 shipment pieces per hour. This translates to accelerated transit times and shorter delivery windows.

“We are on a well-planned track to continuously strengthen our network in robust economies. We see rapidly rising cargo volumes in Malaysia, which also shows massive potential for a sustained uptrend, as the country emerges as a preferred omni-sourcing destination. The Kuala Lumpur Gateway enables our customers to better leverage import and export opportunities, especially via the facility’s busiest trade lanes including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom,” said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

“In 2023, Malaysia jumped 15 places in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index to 26th, among the best in ASEAN,” said YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Transport Minister of Malaysia. “These indicators attest to the vibrancy of our courier services sector, which is witnessing positive momentum and has the drivers for long-term growth in place. The expansion of the Kuala Lumpur Gateway is a vote of confidence and helps to reinforce our country’s role as a critical node in global supply chains.”

Connected by two dedicated aircraft to DHL’s Central Asia and South Asia Hubs, the Kuala Lumpur Gateway is a pivotal link for facilitating the smooth movement of goods between the Klang Valley and overseas markets. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor collectively account for a sizeable chunk of Malaysia’s trade, most recently contributing RM3.3 billion in export value and RM7 billion in import in August 2024^[1].

Optimised for security excellence, the facility has been certified TAPA Class A, the highest airfreight security standard awarded by the Transported Asset Protection Association. Housing more than 400 CCTV cameras, 24-hour surveillance, and state-of-the-art X-ray screening, the facility has also been certified for compliance under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) programme.

Sustainability is a priority when designing the facility. Constructed in alignment with DHL Group’s guidelines for a carbon-neutral building, green technologies are installed across the complex. These include 500 kilowatt-peak solar panels, smart LED lighting, and energy-efficient systems for water and electricity. The approach towards clean operations extends to the use of electric vehicles at the facility, from forklifts and tow tractors to vans and scooters. This has led to the Kuala Lumpur Gateway achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the world's most widely-used green building rating system.

“Through this offering, we boost our ability to support customers in navigating the evolving needs of cross-border shipping with wider and faster capacity,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director, DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei. “The upgraded Kuala Lumpur Gateway demonstrates our commitment to keep investing in the flexibility, agility, and resilience of our supply chain capabilities. The new, larger facility is ideally positioned to extend accessibility and complement our footprint in the more than 220 countries and territories we serve worldwide.”