DHL will launch its guaranteed weekly direct Less than Container Load (LCL) services connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hamburg, Germany; Genoa, Italy and Los Angeles, USA.

Through Danmar Lines, DHL's in-house carrier, the new weekly direct LCL services enables shipments to arrive up to a week earlier.

The launch of the new services taps into the key trade lanes for businesses in Vietnam.

Key sectors will include agricultural goods, apparel, crude oil, furniture, technology and textiles. In the first six months of this year, garment and apparel-related industries accounted for US$10 billion worth of exports from Vietnam, contributing well over a third of the nation's export trade which totaled US$27.6 billion in that period.

"Our ability to continually expand our service portfolio underlines our commitment to offer best-in-class solutions for customers," said Amadou Diallo, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Global Forwarding, South Asia Pacific.

"In the highly competitive business landscape, companies are faced with the challenge of responding more quickly to customer demands. Our direct LCL services offer cost-efficient solutions that meet customers' needs, and support the healthy trade between Vietnam and Germany, Italy and USA." (EHL)