Data to the end of August showed that heavyweight shipment weight across the region increased by 10.5%, while the region’s top 10 entities recorded growth of 11.4%.
Ghana recorded growth of 54.6%, Côte d’Ivoire 49.4%, Nigeria 36.4% and Kenya 18%.
Professional Services recorded growth of 43%, followed by Fashion at 26%, Engineering and Manufacturing at 16% and Automotive at 12%.
Country-level results showed Professional Services growth of 487% in Nigeria, Engineering and Manufacturing growth of 234% in Côte d’Ivoire, and Fashion growth of 52% in South Africa.
Inbound heavyweight shipment performance was led by Technology, which grew by 19.6%, and Automotive at 14%. Outbound growth was strongest in Engineering and Manufacturing at 63.5% and Professional Services at 63%.
“Across Sub-Saharan Africa, heavyweight shipments are often linked to projects and operations where timing is non-negotiable,” said Venessa Dewing, vice-president of sales at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.
“These shipments are not simply heavy; they are business-critical. Heavy Weight Express gives customers the speed, visibility and certainty they need to keep projects on track, protect productivity and trade with greater confidence across and beyond the region.”
Mining and energy companies often require urgent movement of specialised parts, drilling equipment, electrical components and machinery to remote or time-sensitive sites. Engineering and manufacturing businesses depend on the timely arrival of production-critical components, while healthcare providers need to move medical devices, diagnostic equipment and temperature-sensitive supplies.
Technology infrastructure is another area of demand. As connectivity, cloud services and digital transformation expand across African markets, businesses are moving servers, telecommunications equipment, data centre components and high-value electronics across borders.
The automotive sector is also contributing to demand for heavyweight express services, particularly for vehicle parts, workshop equipment and aftersales components moving between suppliers, distributors and markets.
Demand is also being shaped by increasingly connected trade corridors. As intra-African trade develops and businesses strengthen links with suppliers and customers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, logistics providers face growing demand for services combining customs expertise, network reach and predictable transit times.
Heavyweight express shipping is also relevant to second cities and growing commercial centres where industrial activity, infrastructure investment and customer expectations are increasing.
“For customers in the region, resilience is not an abstract supply chain concept; it is a daily operational requirement,” Dewing said.
“When a mine needs a replacement part, a hospital needs equipment, a manufacturer needs a component or a technology project needs infrastructure on site, customers need certainty.”
DHL Express said it continues to invest in aviation capacity, gateway infrastructure, service coverage and specialist support for customers moving complex shipments. The company operates a dedicated air network in sub-Saharan Africa to support cross-border express deliveries.
