Punta Cana, RD.- DP World, a global leader in end-to-end supply chain solutions, announces its first export operations at its new air cargo logistics center in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The new facility, which was announced earlier this year, enhances the Dominican Republic's position as the largest commercial and logistics hub in the Caribbean.
The Punta Cana Air Cargo Center was created thanks to a joint effort between DP World and the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (PCFTZ), a subsidiary of the prominent Dominican business group Grupo Puntacana. The center marks another milestone in DP World's growth strategy for the country, which aims to position the Dominican Republic as a leading player in global trade and logistics.
The hub has an air cargo terminal, a logistics center, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, a fuel supply terminal, an aircraft maintenance and repair shop and a general services building. These additions expand the existing export warehouse, in-transit warehouse and import warehouse. Its integration with the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) allows multimodal air, land and maritime capabilities.
“The start of initial operations at this advanced air cargo logistics center significantly expands the range of services we can offer to our growing list of customers. “This center is poised to position the Dominican Republic prominently on the global stage as a key player in air cargo for a wide variety of products from across the region,” said Morten Johansen, COO of DP World Americas.
In its first operational stage, the center is actively receiving cargo by ground transportation throughout the country and then shipping it by air through the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ).
DP World is currently transitioning its operations to the new facility; By the end of this year, all air cargo entry and exit operations will be centralized through this center. Plans are being discussed to expand into sea-air operations in several South American countries, including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile.
Currently, 60-70% of the cargo is made up of perishable products, mainly fruits and vegetables. The center also handles a variety of other commodities, including machinery, automotive equipment and seafood, and specializes in expedited shipping of goods. Plans are to eventually diversify into the pharmaceutical, technology and e-commerce sectors.
Further capacity expansions are underway, with the logistics center warehouse and manufacturing facility currently under construction and expected to be operational by the second half of 2024. The maintenance and repair workshop has begun civil works and has a two-year schedule to begin operating.
DP World's continued investment in expanding port development in the Dominican Republic recently earned it the 2023 AAPA-CIP Port Industry Excellence Award. The award recognizes the company's significant economic and social contributions; The center currently supports up to 100 public and private sector employees; That number is expected to grow significantly as the center continues to grow and expand.
“Our goal is to forge alliances that promote national and regional connectivity. The greater the connectivity, both through air and sea routes, the more attractive our country becomes as a manufacturing and logistics hub for companies in the Americas and beyond,” Johansen said.
DP World began operations in the Dominican Republic in 2003 at its port facilities on the Punta Caucedo peninsula. The air cargo logistics center will be officially recognized with an opening ceremony planned for the first quarter of next year.
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