DHL eCommerce targets further acquisitions in Eastern Europe

DHL eCommerce is considering additional acquisitions in Eastern Europe as it looks to strengthen its parcel delivery network across the region.

The planned acquisition of Venipak, announced in July, is the latest move in DHL eCommerce’s European expansion strategy. According to CEO Pablo Ciano, Eastern Europe is now a key area of focus for the division as it looks for further opportunities to expand its domestic and cross-border delivery capabilities.

Eastern Europe becomes a focus for expansion

Speaking to German logistics publication DVZ, Ciano said DHL eCommerce sees fewer opportunities for major expansion in Western and Southern Europe following recent partnerships and acquisitions.

In the UK, DHL has combined its parcel operations with Evri, while in Spain and Portugal it has partnered with Portuguese postal operator CTT. Eastern Europe, meanwhile, still offers opportunities to build out local delivery networks through acquisitions.

The planned Venipak deal would give DHL eCommerce direct operations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, subject to regulatory approval.

Venipak operates approximately 800 parcel lockers across the Baltic states, alongside collection points and its own domestic delivery network. DHL intends to connect these existing services with its international parcel network.

Parcel lockers become increasingly important

The Venipak transaction is part of a broader push by DHL eCommerce to expand access to parcel lockers and local collection points.

In Italy, DHL eCommerce and Poste Italiane have established a joint venture focused on parcel lockers. The company has also strengthened its position in the Iberian market through its cooperation with CTT.

These arrangements are designed to connect local delivery networks with DHL’s international infrastructure, giving ecommerce sellers more options for moving parcels across borders.

Ciano told DVZ that DHL eCommerce’s cross-border parcel business is currently growing by approximately 15% annually. The division is also developing delivery routes linking Europe with the Americas.

What it means for cross-border ecommerce

For cross-border ecommerce, DHL’s expansion could mean more connected delivery options for merchants selling to customers in Eastern Europe and across the wider European market.

By combining local parcel networks, lockers and collection points with its international infrastructure, DHL can potentially make cross-border deliveries easier to integrate with domestic last-mile services. For online retailers, this could provide more delivery choices for customers while reducing the need to manage separate local delivery networks in each market.

A larger network could also make it easier for merchants to offer familiar delivery and collection options when entering new European markets. For consumers, access to local parcel lockers and collection points can provide an alternative to home delivery, particularly for purchases coming from another country.

Second-hand ecommerce creates another growth opportunity

DHL eCommerce is also seeing strong growth in parcels sent between private individuals, particularly through parcel shops and lockers.

According to Ciano, volumes handled through these locations are increasing by around 50% per year. Parcel points can support both sides of a second-hand transaction, allowing sellers to drop off items and buyers to collect them without requiring a home delivery.

The growth of marketplaces such as Vinted is helping drive demand for these services. Vinted users sold goods worth €10.8 billion through the platform in 2025, representing a 47% increase compared with the previous year.

As second-hand marketplaces expand across national borders, logistics providers are also facing greater demand for international delivery options. DHL and Vinted expanded their cooperation in Germany in July, making it easier for users to send and receive parcels through DHL lockers.

DHL targets further revenue growth

Ciano has also set an ambitious longer-term target for DHL eCommerce: doubling the division’s revenue over the next five years.

He stressed to DVZ that this is a strategic objective rather than a financial forecast. DHL eCommerce generated €6.9 billion in revenue in 2025.

The company’s recent acquisitions, partnerships and investment in parcel lockers point toward a strategy built around expanding local delivery coverage while connecting those networks to its international parcel infrastructure.

For Eastern Europe in particular, DHL eCommerce appears to see further acquisition opportunities as a way to accelerate that expansion and strengthen its position in the growing cross-border ecommerce market.