Seberang Perai, Malaysia, 18 May 2022: DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has relocated its Prai Service Centre to a larger, RM13 million facility at Batu Kawan Industrial Park. The move is in response to the increased demand for international shipping by the northern region’s business community.
The new Prai Service Centre includes 2,386 square metres of warehousing and office space, which is five times the size of the previous facility. The expansion includes a high-speed sorting system capable of handling up to 975 pieces per hour. This ultimately improves shipment processing capacity by 170 percent for the more than 1,500 parcels and documents bound for and from the facility's busiest air routes, namely the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Germany. The faster transit times provide a boost in service for the company's customers in mainland Penang, Perlis, and Kedah.
The opening of the new service center was officiated today by Yang Amat Berhormat Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, and witnessed by Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei. Also in attendance were representatives from local authorities, investment bodies, and DHL’s customers.
“We are pleased to see DHL Express establishing a stronger foothold in Penang to support our thriving businesses here, which have experienced a further uptick in overseas sales. Their investment demonstrates confidence in the state while capitalising on our strategic connectivity to Asia as a whole,” said Tuan Chow.
“Participating in cross-border trade drives resilience, sustainable development, and quality employment for SMEs and large corporations alike,” said Julian. “As a major facilitator of global supply chains, DHL Express helps homegrown brands realize their growth potential by tapping into the export market. With the bigger and better Prai Service Centre, our customers are better positioned to leverage the ongoing growth of B2B and B2C e-commerce.”
In line with Deutsche Post DHL Group’s commitment to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art solar panels and fitted with energy-efficient appliances and systems that are expected to cut the release of greenhouse gases by 26.9 percent.
The Prai Service Centre handles domestic and time-definite international shipments to and from the 220 countries and territories served by DHL Express, and offers a convenient ServicePoint for customer drop off and pick up.
Penang has long been a strong point of focus for DHL Express. The Prai Service Centre is one of three facilities in the state, with the others being Penang Gateway and Penang Service Centre on the island. In May 2021, the company introduced a direct Hong Kong-Penang route that plies five times a week between the Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong and Penang Gateway. An Airbus A300 aircraft with 54 tonnes of cargo space is dedicated to serve Penang where electronic components and parts make up the bulk of goods flown. The dedicated flight will not only add capacity but will equally shorten transit times to and from the city.
