DHL Group's Profit Jumps 30% as Heavier Air Freight and Industrial Shippers Fuel Growth

DHL Group's second-quarter operating profit rose 30%, driven by heavier air shipments in its Express division, tight air freight capacity, and fuel surcharges. Net profit grew 24% and revenue rose 13% to about $25.8 billion, with an operating margin of 8.3%. DHL raised its full-year EBIT guidance to $7.43 billion, and cash flow jumped 73%, aided by U.S. tariff refunds it is passing on to customers.

DHL Express operating income surged 64% as the company shifted toward heavier, industrial shipments rather than light e-commerce parcels, with weight per shipment up sharply. Tight air cargo capacity, partly tied to the Middle East conflict, added about $172.6 million in earnings as volume shifted from forwarders onto DHL's own flights. CEO Tobias Meyer said DHL Express's scale and fuel-efficient network let it compete on speed and price for high-value cargo like turbines, not just small parts.

The company continues expanding in premium verticals such as healthcare, clean energy, and data centers, with AI-related demand — warehousing, component transport, and site logistics — rising sharply. Other divisions were mixed: global forwarding profit rose 22% on higher air and ocean volumes, Supply Chain revenue grew 13% but posted a loss from a one-time prior-year boost, and eCommerce results were skewed by last year's UK merger with Evri.

DHL's cost-savings program has delivered $1.2 billion ahead of schedule, while capital spending rose 25% to $1.5 billion as the company keeps investing under its 2030 growth strategy — even as rivals FedEx and UPS trim capital spending.

Original article: DHL 30% profit growth led by heavy air freight — FreightWaves