DHL to build healthcare logistics hub at Singapore Changi

DHL Global Forwarding will build a dedicated healthcare logistics facility at Singapore's Changi Airport. The hub, targeted for completion by the end of 2027, is designed to strengthen the airport's capabilities for handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and life sciences cargo across the Asia Pacific region.

According to an announcement from Changi Airport Group (CAG), the facility will be called the DHL Singapore Coldchain Hub. It will be located at Changi Nexus One within the Changi Airfreight Centre.

Facility specifications and cold chain capabilities

The 3,047-square-meter hub will be built to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards. It will support shipments requiring controlled temperatures of 2°C-8°C and 15°C-25°C.

Key features include GDP-qualified cold rooms, direct airside connectivity, and real-time temperature monitoring. The design includes dedicated temperature-controlled transfer solutions from aircraft to the facility and onward to customers' warehouses. These capabilities aim to maintain an unbroken cold chain for healthcare shipments moving through Singapore.

The facility will sit within Changi Nexus One, an air logistics building offering close to 8,000 square meters of warehousing space and direct apron connectivity. Changi Nexus One is the first building at the airport to achieve both BCA Green Mark Platinum and Green Mark Platinum Positive Energy Building certifications.

The new hub will complement Changi Airport's existing temperature-controlled infrastructure. This currently includes cool dollies and more than 9,000 square meters of airside-fronting temperature-controlled handling capacity, supporting over 375,000 tons per year.

Investment drivers and regional market growth

This investment is part of DHL Group's broader EUR 2 billion commitment to its DHL Health Logistics division under its Strategy 2030 plan. The strategy targets growth in the life sciences and healthcare sector through global infrastructure and specialized solutions.

Asia Pacific is projected to be a major driver of global pharmaceutical market growth. This is fueled by aging populations, improving healthcare access, and growing adoption of innovative therapies. According to IQVIA, pharmaceutical sales across 12 key Asian markets are forecast to grow at a 3.7% compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2029.

Singapore's own pharmaceutical cold chain market is also expected to expand. Projected volumes are set to increase at approximately 7% annually, from 14 million kilograms in 2028 to 17 million kilograms by 2031.

Leadership on Singapore's strategic role

Praveen Gregory, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, noted that healthcare supply chains across Asia Pacific are evolving rapidly. Demand is growing for biologics and specialty medicines that require greater precision and speed.

He described Singapore as uniquely positioned to support this development. "The country’s pharmaceutical cold chain market is gearing up for steady growth," Gregory said. "Our investment in the DHL Singapore Coldchain Hub is critical to meet future demand."

Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, said the facility deepens a longstanding partnership between Changi and DHL Group. It also reflects the growing importance of healthcare logistics as a sector.

"This investment builds on Changi’s strengths in air connectivity, airside infrastructure, and specialized cargo handling," Lim stated. The partnership aims to support the safe and efficient movement of time- and temperature-sensitive shipments across the region.