DHL Aviation announced the integration of two Boeing 737-400 all-cargo planes to its network in sub-Saharan Africa, an initiative aimed at strengthening its logistical capacities on the continent. The aircraft were officially presented on the airport tarmac International Murtala Muhammed from Lagos, Nigeria, a key hub for flows regional and intercontinental trade. According to the group, this extension will reduce logistical deadlines and improve the predictability of deliveries, criteria that have become essential for African businesses engaged in international trade.

“With the expansion of trade in Africa as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf), businesses require reliable transit times and a consistent delivery performance,” said Anthony Beckley, Vice President of operations and aviation at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa. He specifies that these two dedicated aircraft will be integrated into the African air network of DHL Aviation in order to strengthen connections on strategic axes connecting from Africa to Europe and Asia.

This reinforcement takes place in a context of strong growth in demand for logistics services in Africa of the West, especially in sectors such as e-commerce, perishable products, energy, as well as life and health sciences health. E-commerce, in particular, has experienced sustained growth since Covid-19 pandemic, driven by the acceleration of the digitalization of fashion of consumption.

According to the Africa Industrial Market report Dashboard — H1 2025, published in September 2025 by Knight Frank, the The size of the African e-commerce market is expected to exceed 75 billion dollars in 2025. This dynamic is among the main drivers of the €300 million investment plan (around €357 million) of dollars) announced by DHL in October, aiming at the development of warehouses and logistics infrastructures across the continent to support the rise in power of trade flows.

The latest data from DHL Global Connectedness Tracker confirms this trend. In the first half of 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest global growth in value of trade, with an increase of 10% in US dollars, ahead of North America (+7%) and the South America — Central America region — Caribbean (+5%). A performance that reinforces the relevance of investments from DHL to support the economic and commercial integration of the continent.