DHL US Express completes US retreat

DHL is to reposition of its loss-making US Express business, which will in future focus entirely on its international offering. It will discontinue domestic-only air and ground products from 30 January, 2009 but will still maintain a solid international presence. DHL says that capability in US Express’ service portfolio will be maintained everywhere else in the world and that there will be no service impact to its operations in all other regions and countries globally.

“Since our announcement on 28 May,” said John Mullen (right), global chief executive officer of DHL Express, “we have been diligently implementing our stated restructuring plan and we are ahead of meeting all its key components. However, given the current background of unprecedented uncertainty and risk in the global economy, we feel that it is critical and prudent to take additional measures to combat what we believe will be an extremely challenging 2009, and to do this ahead of time.

“We decided to focus on what we do best as a company, and that’s international shipping. We are here to stay,” said Mullen.