Trend of International Shipping Demand Continues to Increase

Increasing international trade activity and global supply chain integration have made logistics needs more complex. Businesses now not only require competitive shipping costs but also prioritise speed, certainty of timing, and the ability to send goods in large volumes to support their operations. This condition is increasingly relevant for the manufacturing and industrial sectors, which depend on the timely delivery of components, raw materials, and finished products. Supply chain disruptions can directly impact productivity, operational costs, and the ability to meet market demand. Amid this trend, global logistics company DHL Express has launched its Heavy Weight Express (HWX) service in Indonesia to address the rising need for cross-border heavy cargo shipments. The new service enables international express air cargo shipments with a capacity of up to 1,000 kilogrammes per piece, or up to 3,000 kilogrammes in a single shipment. The launch comes as the national logistics industry continues to show positive growth, with the Indonesian freight and logistics market value estimated to reach around 139 billion US dollars by 2026. Ahmad Mohamad, Senior Technical Advisor at DHL Express Indonesia, said the service was designed to meet the needs of businesses seeking a combination of large load capacity and delivery speed. As businesses grow and become more globally integrated, the need for logistics solutions offering speed, reliability, and certainty becomes increasingly important, he said. The HWX service will assist industries with time-sensitive shipping needs, particularly for maintaining operational continuity and meeting international market demand. Besides offering large capacity, the service uses an all-in pricing scheme designed to provide cost transparency while reducing tariff uncertainty common in conventional freight services. This approach allows businesses to lessen their reliance on commercial flight capacity fluctuations and additional charges that often arise during the shipping process. DHL Express also independently manages the entire operational chain, from its aircraft fleet and hub and gateway operations to customs processes and final delivery. The company has established Heavy Weight Priority Desks in various countries, with dedicated teams monitoring shipments 24 hours a day to detect potential obstacles and respond rapidly to any issues. The HWX service targets various strategic industrial sectors, including automotive manufacturing, technology, machinery, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and oil and gas. A logistics system capable of handling large cargo quickly can help companies reduce the risk of raw material supply delays, accelerate product launches to market, and improve working capital efficiency by reducing the need for buffer stock. The need for increasingly reliable logistics infrastructure aligns with the development of the national manufacturing sector, which currently contributes around 18–19 percent to Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). National trade performance also shows a positive trend. Manufacturing exports increased by more than 16 percent, while non-oil and gas exports grew by around 7.68 percent year-on-year in early 2025. With growing trade activity and industrial demand for fast, high-capacity shipping, strengthening logistics services is expected to be an important factor in supporting the competitiveness of Indonesian industry in the global market.