The first quarter of the year saw an increase of 10% in the volume of shipments, which is expected to maintain for the entire 2014.
“There is a mix of the operational investments plan, the SME (small and medium-sized enterprises i.e.) focus, the new launched products to respond to our customers’ need (…),” said Daniel Kearvell, managing director of DHL Express Romania, explaining last year’s revenue growth.
DHL is the second largest company on the courier service market put at EUR250 million last year. The market leader is FAN Courier, owned by Romanian entrepreneurs Felix Patrascanu and brothers Adrian and Neculai Mihai. FAN Courier’s revenue stood at EUR62.5 million last year. Other competitors in this business include TNT Romania, UPS.
DHL increased its volumes by 13% last year. Number of shipments billed in Romania stood at 1.5 million. It expects growth of shipments by 10% this year.
Most DHL Romania’s customers are small and medium-sized companies in every sector from automotive to high tech, textile and manufacturing.
“From our point of view, the SME segment is still the key for DHL Romania development. Out of the 5000 customers we have in DHL Romania, 85% of companies are SMEs. We are investing in dedicated programs and platforms for SME.”
Daniel Kearvell said the main challenges his company’s clients were facing were “the insufficient knowledge of international markets, lack of contacts in international markets, and the lack of information regarding customs legislation in other countries”.
The political stability and the investments in infrastructure are, of course, welcome by the industry, Kearvell added.
“We will continue to invest in network infrastructure development as to ensure the best cut-offs and transit times for our customers.”
DHL has recently launched a new operational terminal in Cluj-Napoca inside the Cluj International Airport (Avram Iancu), which will allow it to deliver the shipments to its customers with up 60 minutes earlier.
The new terminal will enable the company to offer same-day delivery for the county, as well as for Alba, Bistrita-Nasaud, Salaj, Maramures, Mures, Satu Mare and Sibiu. DHL has four such terminals in Romania in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Arad and Oradea.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)