Number one in air and ocean freight

DHL Global Forwarding is the international market leader in air and ocean freight. As forwarders, we move goods and merchandise on behalf of our customers to an agreed destination within fixed parameters such as transport mode, time and price. We draw upon our geographic coverage and multi-modal capabilities and have specific skills in numerous sectors, including aviation, automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, life sciences, technology and the processing industry to meet the needs of our customers.

Our business is built on sound customer relationships. Working with customers over many years enables us to identify and supply the transport solutions best suited to their needs. We reduce the complexity of our customers’ value chains by supplying the information required to determine the appropriate transport route, which also mitigates the risk associated with working in developing markets.

Market shares in air freight, 2006 Market volume: €16.4 billion1) 1) Market volume and market share data are based on IATA statistics, which do not correspond to companies’ published revenues and cannot be compared with the prior-year figure. 2) Pro forma, BAX Global revenue missing in IATA data for some countries. Sources: IATA/CASS, company estimates and own sources, 2006

Market shares in ocean freight, 2006 Market volume for forwarding: 26.2 million TEUs1) 1) Estimated share of overall market controlled by forwarders. Sources: Global Insight, annual reports, press releases, company estimates, 2006

In the air freight business, we are the global market leader, offering direct shipments and air consolidations, including time-defined services that operate on an airport-to-airport or door-to-door basis. In the year under review, the air freight market grew by around 4% (previous year: 5%) according to IATA. Our SeAir product gives customers the best of both worlds: combining the speed of air transport with the lower cost of ocean freight.

In ocean freight, we provide full-container-load and less-than-container-load services as well as non-containerised transport between the world’s principal markets. The ocean freight market growth in 2007 was around 10%, fuelled primarily by exports from Asia.

Our forwarding activities are complemented by transport-related, value-added services, such as customs brokerage, cross-docking, pick-up and delivery and cargo insurance to ensure the seamless transfer of cargo across borders. We also advise customers on security issues. Our sophisticated IT systems allow us to track goods in transit at all times, providing customers with maximum visibility and control. On request, we also develop customised programmes such as integrated order management.