DHL to again increase service fees starting Jan. 1

MANILA  -Starting next year, DHL Express Philippines will implement a price hike for its parcel delivery services amid inflation woes affecting several industries, including the logistics sector.

In a statement on Friday, the DHL Group unit disclosed a 4.9-percent average increase in service fees effective Jan. 1, 2024. It had also imposed a 7.9-percent increase for this year.

At current rates, sending a shoe box-sized package to Singapore from the Philippines, for example, costs about P2,600. Next year, the rate will increase to P2,727.

“Overall, the global macroeconomic situation has started to stabilize although uncertainty remains. Through these turbulent times, we deliver stable and reliable services to all our customers globally,” DHL Express Philippines country manager Nigel Lockett said.

The price adjustments are done on an annual basis to reflect inflationary and other costs incurred in relation to operations.

Inflation rose to 5.3 percent in August from 4.7 percent the previous month on higher food prices. The figure is expected to average 5.8 percent this year, higher than the previous forecast of 5.6 percent.

Investment plans

“With the annual price adjustment, we can continue to invest in improved solutions, increase flexibility across our network and focus on our responsibility to the environment to deliver resilient and sustainable logistic solutions,” Lockett added.

In February, the courier service provider launched an upgraded aircraft to handle more cargo chip nets amid growing demand for logistics due to a booming e-commerce industry. Cargo capacity, as a result, increased from 42 tons (T) to 55 T.

The new aircraft is scheduled to fly 12 times per week serving the routes of Hong Kong, Manila and Cebu.

Lockett previously said the new unit was part of the company’s continuing investment in the country.

“Our new and larger aircraft is a firm commitment to serving our customers, and ensure that we are prepared to support their growth at a global scale and respond to the needs and demands of the market,” he said.

DHL also opened this year its new and bigger P254-million service center in Pasig City as it gears up for the uptick in parcel deliveries. It has three warehouses, a customer retail outlet and material handling equipment.

DHL Group, which has presence in over 220 countries and territories, offers national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and road, air and ocean transport.