DHL sees Asia-Pacific surge

DHL’s Asia Pacific revenues grew 19 percent to 1.9 billion euros in the January-June period from a year ago, and the company predicted they would remain strong. DHL, a unit of Germany’s Deutsche Post, has invested 1.4 billion dollars in the region since 2000 to boost its infrastructure and plans to spend more if needed, company officials said in a media briefing. Asia-Pacific is DHL’s fastest-growing region. DHL said the region’s transport market is now worth 700 billion dollars and is expected to top 1.3 trillion dollars by 2020. DHL has regional hubs in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Revenues from Asia-Pacific totaled more than 4.2 billion dollars in 2004. The company also said it has no plans to increase its 5 percent stake in Sinotrans, China’ state-owned forwarder. A 50-year partnership between DHL and Sinotrans’ parent, Sinotrans Group, still has more than 30 years to run.