DHL hikes shipping rates from January

DHL Express, the world's leading international express service provider, has raised the price for shipping by 4.9 percent.

The hike will be effective from January 1, 2018, said the company in a statement.

Ken Allen, chief executive officer of DHL Express, said, over the last year, the company has added new hubs with automated sorting capabilities to its international network and further strengthened security measures to meet the requirements of customers, partners and transport authorities.

Allen said DHL Express has announced further investments in modernising its aviation fleet, introducing more green vehicles for inner city delivery and enhancing ground infrastructure around the world.

The express services provider deployed new solutions – such as On Demand Delivery and Parcel Lockers – to make the delivery process even more convenient for retailers and their customers in the dynamically growing e-commerce segment.

“Our annual price increase ensures that we can make the investments needed to meet our customers' expectations and to continue to make them successful over the long-term,” said Allen.  The statement said DHL Express adjusts its prices annually, taking into account inflation, currency dynamics and other rising costs, such as expenses related to compliance with enhanced security regulations, in each of the more than 220 countries and territories that it serves.

Price adjustments will vary from country to country, depending on local conditions, and will apply to all customers where contracts allow, it said.