DHL opens six cold chain corridors linking US hub to Asia pharma markets

DHL Global Forwarding has added six bi-directional corridors to its Health Logistics Cold Chain Network, linking North America and Europe to pharmaceutical hubs in Asia, according to an Oct. 12 press release. Three of the new corridors originate at the company's Cincinnati hub (CVG): CVG to Singapore (SIN), CVG to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and CVG to Seoul Incheon (ICN). The additions follow a Brussels (BRU)-CVG route launched earlier this year as part of the same network.

The corridors give pharmaceutical shippers flexible routing, access to temperature-controlled capacity and more consistent transit times across markets, the release said. The stated goal is reducing supply chain risk for a customer base that moves vaccines, biologics, clinical trial materials and other healthcare products.

Why DHL built the corridors now

The expansion responds to customer demand for reliable pharmaceutical connectivity between healthcare markets, DHL Freight spokesperson Laura Lehnen told Supply Chain Dive. Demand is strongest from pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs in North America and Europe toward Asia, Lehnen said.

That imbalance shapes capacity allocation. Most of the corridors' available air freight capacity is dedicated to Asia Pacific trade flows, with volume expectations weighted toward inbound Asia shipments. "DHL can therefore support both directions of trade as customer demand evolves and manufacturing and distribution patterns continue to develop," Lehnen said.

In plain terms, the network is built for a westbound-heavy market but retains eastbound capacity should manufacturing patterns shift.

How the aircraft handle the cold

A majority of the routes are operated with DHL's Boeing 777 freighter fleet. Each aircraft carries three compartments with dedicated temperature settings, allowing different products to travel under separate thermal regimes on the same flight.

Cincinnati is one of DHL's established healthcare gateways, offering temperature-controlled storage, GDP-compliant healthcare logistics facilities and specialized equipment, Lehnen said. The company also operates a dedicated life sciences and healthcare facility in Indianapolis, extending its Midwest pharmaceutical footprint beyond the CVG campus.

What is coming to Cincinnati

DHL is backing the corridors with hardware at CVG:

• Five temperature-controlled dollies, to be deployed in the "near future," moving healthcare shipments between aircraft and facilities during extreme weather.
• A new airside facility opening in 2027, providing temperature-controlled storage for inbound and outbound Unit Load Devices near the aircraft to preserve temperature integrity through handling.
• A new off-airport facility with temperature-controlled storage and handling, ULD build-up and break-down capability, and pallet storage.

The 2027 date is the concrete milestone. Until then, the dollies and existing GDP-compliant infrastructure carry the load.

Competition is also investing

DHL is not alone in courting pharmaceutical freight. FedEx launched a dedicated healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics organization in June. Last year, FedEx began flying a Dublin (DUB) to Indianapolis (IND) route aimed primarily at healthcare goods.

Both integrators are chasing the same prize: high-value cargo that demands compliant, temperature-stable handling and pays accordingly. With six new corridors, a 777-based fleet and a 2027 facility commitment, DHL has now staked its claim on the trans-Pacific side of that market.