DHL and JD.com have agreed to collaborate on innovative logistics and ecommerce initiatives, aiming to create seamless, integrated solutions that better connect brands, merchants, and consumers across both continents.
DHL Group and JD.com, Inc., China's largest retailer by revenue, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to support German brands' growth in China and strengthen their presence in European markets through JD.com's European retail platform, Joybuy.
By combining DHL's global logistics network with JD.com’s e‑commerce platform, the partnership aims to open additional international channels for German brands while strengthening each company’s role in cross‑border retail and fulfillment.
Under the MoU aimed at promoting German brands, DHL will introduce them to JD.com, helping German businesses expand their presence in the Chinese market.
By engaging JD.com's cross-border e-commerce business, JINGDONG Cross-border, German brands can sell directly to more than 700 million Chinese consumers on JD.com, without a physical presence or legal entity in China.
By combining the strengths of DHL and JD.com, German brands gain access to a seamless, one-stop solution for entering the Chinese market. DHL and JINGDONG Logistics, JD.com's logistics arm, will collaborate to design and provide end-to-end integrated logistics solutions, enhancing the overall fulfilment experience from Europe to China.
The solution will allow merchants to benefit from a preferential customs duties and VAT scheme for direct B2C shipments, lowering such costs substantially compared to conventional importation.
In addition, JD.com also offers a full range of e-commerce capabilities, including operations, product selection, consumer insights, marketing tools, and more. Combined with DHL's decades of experience in international shipping and trade facilitation, this creates a uniquely powerful ecosystem for brands expanding into China.
"This partnership will enable a solution that helps DHL customers in Germany and Europe in accessing the vast China market. We combine four elements in a unique solution: the global strength of DHL, the enormous reach of the JD.com platform, a preferential import scheme for B2C shipments and the great fulfillment and delivery capabilities of JD.com in China," said Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group.
"The combination of our logistics expertise and JD.com's established e-commerce capabilities will provide great benefits for German brands to expand internationally through scalable pathways and innovative tools that help merchants connect with consumers in the best possible way," he added.
Sandy Xu, CEO of JD.com, said: "Many German enterprises have strong products and compelling brand stories. Sustained growth in China requires the right channels and operational infrastructure to directly reach Chinese consumers at scale."
"Through this MoU with DHL, we aim to combine logistics capabilities, digital infrastructure, and market access to help brands better understand Chinese consumer demand, optimize product positioning and improve go-to-market efficiency, enabling them to focus on long-term growth and brand building."
As part of this joint initiative, JD.com will also support these German brands in reaching a broader base of European consumers through Joybuy, the company's new online retail business in Europe.
Joybuy will use its e‑commerce capabilities to give German companies an additional sales channel and broader retail reach, helping them connect with more consumers across Europe. The arrangement also reinforces DHL's role in supporting cross‑border e‑commerce growth for German brands.