DHL Supply Chain has reached an agreement to acquire Open Market, a logistics and transport operator in Colombia, as the company looks to expand its regional footprint and reinforce its specialised logistics capabilities.
The deal forms part of DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which includes ambitions to grow its life sciences and healthcare logistics business through 2030. The transaction is also expected to strengthen DHL’s global network and capabilities in life sciences and healthcare logistics, areas facing increasing demand for specialised supply chain solutions.
Hendrik Venter, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, said the acquisition reflects the company’s strategic focus on reinforcing capabilities in regions and sectors with sustained long-term growth potential.
“Colombia’s strong economic momentum and rising demand for integrated logistics and transport services make it a key growth market for DHL Group,” Venter said. He added that expanding DHL’s presence in the country and integrating Open Market’s expertise in managing complex supply chains for pharmaceuticals, medical products and personal care would further advance DHL Health Logistics capabilities and strengthen the company’s support for customers operating in highly regulated and operationally demanding sectors.
The integration will bring Open Market’s network of 21 warehouses, covering 120,000 square metres, together with 13 cross-docking platforms and an owned vehicle fleet. These assets are expected to significantly reinforce DHL Supply Chain’s operational capabilities across Colombia.
The acquisition will also add approximately 4,100 employees to DHL’s Colombian workforce. At the same time, DHL will broaden its logistics solutions portfolio through additional transportation, packaging and temperature-controlled operations.
Agustín Croche, CEO Latin America of DHL Supply Chain, said Open Market’s experience complements DHL’s existing offering across the region. Its transport network, cross-docking infrastructure and temperature-controlled warehouses, combined with expertise in life sciences and healthcare, consumer, and engineering and manufacturing, are expected to enhance service quality and reliability for customers in Colombia and across the wider Latin American market.
The transaction is also aligned with DHL’s strategy of investing in capabilities that respond to changing customer requirements, with the broader objective of strengthening competitiveness and supporting sustainable growth.
DHL’s investment in Colombia has continued to expand in parallel with the Open Market transaction. The company recently enlarged its Constellation Distribution Center logistics hub in Cota, near Bogotá. The expanded facility is expected to further strengthen DHL’s ability to manage specialised supply chains.
For DHL Supply Chain Colombia CEO Robinson Vasquez, bringing Open Market’s employees into the organisation will add extensive industry experience, local market knowledge and established customer relationships. He said the acquisition would further improve DHL’s ability to provide specialised, reliable and responsive logistics solutions throughout Colombia.
For its part, Open Market said the sale of its Colombian operations forms part of a broader strategy to concentrate its investments and capabilities on Brazil.
Anibal Wadih, Chairman of the Board at Open Market, said the company’s priority is to ensure business continuity while maintaining the quality and reliability of its services and preserving the value built over the years. He also noted that DHL’s global logistics expertise would help support the next phase of Open Market’s operations in Colombia.
The acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions before it can be completed.
