Thailand is rapidly emerging as a strategic sustainable logistics hub in Southeast Asia, driven by the rise of intra-Asia trade, progressive government policies, and growing demand for sustainable supply chain solutions.
DHL Supply Chain Thailand has officially launched the Bangna Sustainable Logistics Center, the first DHL Supply Chain facility globally to be fully powered by renewable energy via on-site solar systems.
This 1.39-billion-baht (€35 million) investment underscores DHL Supply Chain’s commitment to sustainable logistics and to serving Thailand’s growing role in sustainable trade, proving that sustainability is profitable and vital for resilience amid volatile global trade tensions.
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
“We’re making strategic investments in sustainable warehouses as part of our Strategy 2030 aspiration to be the ‘Green Logistics of Choice’. Thailand stood out to us, thanks to its government’s robust renewable energy policies, a highly skilled workforce, deep expertise in sustainability, and impressive manufacturing capabilities,” Hendrik Venter, chief executive officer of DHL Supply Chain, told the Bangkok Post.
He added that Thailand is rapidly emerging as a leader in sustainable logistics across Southeast Asia, and that the company is genuinely enthusiastic and motivated to move forward with this investment.
He foresees digitalisation, automation, technology and robotics as impacting the global economy and DHL’s customers and supply chains.
“Sustainability is an absolute must, not just a ‘nice term’, ” Mr Venter said.
For DHL Supply Chain’s customers, who have committed to science-based emission targets, the new DHL Supply Chain facility in Thailand offers a tangible way to meet their goals.
“They can claim direct carbon emissions reductions from operating in warehouses fully powered by solar-generated energy like ours — something far more impactful than simply buying certificates,” Mr Venter said.
Changes in global trade are becoming increasingly evident, particularly due to trade barriers and tariffs introduced by the US administration, which are now impacting the flow of global trade.
“We’re seeing the reduction of certain import lanes into the US. At the same time, new trade lanes are picking up volume, and intra-Asia trade is definitely increasing,” Mr Venter added.
This geopolitical shift is key for DHL and its customers.
“We’re helping them not just survive, but thrive. By keeping them informed on trade developments, we enable smarter, strategic supply chain decisions,” said Mr Venter.
To help customers adapt, DHL Supply Chain uses artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive analysis and geopolitical risk mapping, enabling proactive supply chain adjustments in response to global shifts.
“AI — especially agentic AI — is key. It continuously learns, helping us stay ahead of trends and manage risks, from power outages to cyber-attacks, ensuring continuity for our customers in any situation while supporting our workforce at the same time,” said Mr Venter.
UNDERSTANDING SUPPLY CHAIN
Mr Venter noted that supply chains have moved beyond boardroom discussions.
“It’s vital that CEOs and boards fully understand their supply chains — the vulnerabilities and how they respond under pressure,” he said.
“That’s where DHL Supply Chain steps in, offering solutions and options to support them.”
Stability is key for long-term investment decisions. DHL Supply Chain advocates a holistic approach: keeping inventory close to demand centres and adopting multi-sourcing to avoid dependence on a single supplier or location.
“Thailand is emerging as a strong logistics hub, with many customers placing inventory across multiple sites to reduce risk and boost flexibility,” Mr Venter said.
Some customers are already adapting, Mr Venter added.
“We’re helping them develop new shipping strategies, particularly for the US. Some ship in bulk to the US, then deconsolidate and handle fast final-mile deliveries locally. This approach offers greater flexibility and efficiency closer to the market.”
DHL Supply Chain’s strength is its globally integrated network, with over 1,300 warehouses and active operations in more than 50 countries.
This allows the company to quickly move inventory and support customers wherever they operate. This flexibility also helps small and medium-sized businesses.
“If you’re an innovative SME in Thailand wanting to sell globally, we can store small amounts of your products in places like Spain, Poland, or the US, with no startup costs and easy pay-as-you-go options,” said Mr Venter.
“It’s all about supporting growth beyond local markets. I’ve seen some amazing products here. These companies need global supply chains that are just as agile and ambitious as they are,” he added.
THAILAND’S COMPETITIVE EDGE
Javier Bilbao, chief executive officer of DHL Supply Chain Asia-Pacific, said that to enable truly sustainable logistics, the country’s investments include roads, airports, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, ensuring that sustainable capabilities are accessible nationwide.
A second area is investment in innovation and advanced technologies. DHL Supply Chain aims to expand the use of robotics and AI in its Thai operations.
“We’re seeing more flexible, affordable robotics emerging. This opens new opportunities for Thailand to boost automation, attract investment, and grow as a competitive logistics and manufacturing hub,” Mr Bilbao said.
The third pillar is talent development in terms of engineers, data experts, and technically skilled professionals.
Mr Bilbao also urges Southeast Asian countries to collaborate and align their work practices, trade rules, and administrative tasks more closely so the region can work on a unified system allowing companies to flexibly benefit from the strengths of each country, creating a stronger regional powerhouse.
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Mr Bilbao said modern supply chains must link sustainability and logistics as an integrated system.
However, implementing technology requires funding infrastructure, such as charging stations for electric vehicles.
Sustainable investments often make good business sense as renewable electricity from solar is less expensive than grid electricity in this region, while also helping risk mitigation against power grid supply disruptions.
Steve Walker, chief executive officer of DHL Supply Chain Thailand Cluster, said the Bangna Sustainable Logistics Center in Thailand is the new standard for other warehouses.
The facility includes a free-trade zone and chilled and controlled-temperature zones, which are ideal for food, pharmaceuticals, and sensitive products.
It also utilises automation and robotics to accelerate throughput, reduce errors, and cut fulfilment times by up to 15-20%.
It also enables omnichannel capability by enabling business-to-business and business-to-customer, and bulk distribution from the same inventory and facility.
The new facility links directly to DHL’s air hub at Bangkok airport, its global forwarding hub, and e-commerce centres, offering seamless multimodal integration.
DHL Supply Chain combines global scale with local expertise to deliver end-to-end solutions, ranging from sourcing and factory logistics to fulfilment and last-mile delivery.
“This new facility reflects global trends — consolidation, sustainability and resilience,” said Mr Walker, who added that the facility is expected to reach full capacity by next year, with the company looking for its next piece of land.
