Brief
DHL reports 10.5% rise in Sub‑Saharan Africa shipments
Growth was strongest in Ghana (54.6%) and driven by professional services, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
By Felo News Desk · Published
DHL Express Sub‑Saharan Africa announced that heavyweight shipment weight grew 10.5% between January and August 2026, according to the logistics firm.
What happened
Data to the end of August showed a 10.5% increase in total heavyweight shipment weight across the region. The top‑10 entities in the market posted an 11.4% rise. Country‑level growth was led by Ghana (54.6%), Côte d’Ivoire (49.4%), Nigeria (36.4%) and Kenya (18%).
What the reports add
Sector‑specific growth varied: professional services recorded 43% growth, fashion 26%, engineering and manufacturing 16% and automotive 12%. Within countries, professional services in Nigeria surged 487%, engineering and manufacturing in Côte d’Ivoire rose 234%, and fashion in South Africa grew 52%.
What was said
"Across Sub‑Saharan Africa, heavyweight shipments are often linked to projects and operations where timing is non‑negotiable," said Venessa Dewing, vice‑president of sales at DHL Express Sub‑Saharan Africa. "These shipments are not simply heavy; they are business‑critical. Heavy Weight Express gives customers the speed, visibility and certainty they need to keep projects on track, protect productivity and trade with greater confidence across and beyond the region." She added that resilience is a daily operational requirement for customers ranging from mines to hospitals.
How it came about
The surge reflects rising demand from mining and energy firms, engineering and manufacturing businesses, healthcare providers and technology projects that need rapid movement of specialised parts, equipment and high‑value electronics. Growing intra‑African trade corridors and stronger links to Europe, Asia and the Americas are also prompting logistics providers to offer more predictable, customs‑expert services.
Key facts
- Heavyweight shipment weight grew 10.5% in Sub‑Saharan Africa Jan‑Aug 2026 (bizcommunity.com)
- Ghana recorded the highest country growth at 54.6% (bizcommunity.com)
- Professional services sector grew 43% regionally (bizcommunity.com)
- Venessa Dewing is vice‑president of sales at DHL Express Sub‑Saharan Africa (bizcommunity.com)
Timeline
- 2026-01-01 — Start of period for DHL heavyweight shipment data
- 2026-08-31 — End of period for DHL heavyweight shipment data
- 2026-10-19 — DHL announces 10.5% growth in heavyweight shipments
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “DHL heavyweight shipments rise 10.5% across sub-Saharan Africa”
