DHL acquires Colombian warehousing company, expands Latin American presence

Today, DHL Supply Chain acquired Colombian company Suppla Group, a provider of warehousing and packaging for life-sciences, healthcare and retail products, with locations in 25 Colombian cities.

“The expansion into the developing Andean region in South America, specifically in Colombia, is key to achieve our Strategy 2020 targets and allows us to unlock further growth potential,” said Javier Bilbao, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, Latin America.

The move comes in context of heightening buzz about Latin America in the airfreight industry. An increased demand for air cargo capacity – fueled mainly by international demand for fresh produce, as well as Brazil’s economic turnaround last year, after a slump that began in 2013 – has piqued the interest of industry leaders in the region.

DHL Supply Chain already operates a logistics warehouse in the country’s capital of Bogotá, but this new acquisition is a clear indicator that the company anticipates the market’s continued growth. “Colombia has ambitious investment programs in the coming years, and we are confident that this acquisition will strengthen our presence,” Bilbao said.