EXPRESS firm DHL Express Philippines and local courier Airfreight 2100 (Air21) are holding their rates steady despite the recent spike in oil prices.
“We are evaluating the market and consulting our customers if there is a need to increase rates but at the moment we are main-taining them,” DHL country manager Lawrence Llamzon said.
Air21, the Philippine licensee of Federal Express, said it is also unwilling to hike rates for now since this will affect its client base.
“Increasing rates is not that easy. There are so many things that should be considered like your competitors, clients and economic conditions. At the moment, we are maintaining existing rates and subject to study (of)… economic conditions decide… if we will have to increase rates,” said Air21 chairman Alberto Lina.
Early this year, DHL hiked its ground shipping rates by an average of 4.9% and air shipments by 3.5%.
Both Air21 and DHL are looking at expanding to increase their market share.
This year, DHL has already invested P30 million for the development of its gateways in Subic and Clark and is looking at a 30% growth in 2007.
Air21, on the other hand, is set to sink in at least P500 million in the next three to five years, much of which will be for technological upgrade.
For next year, DHL and Air21 are bullish about business despite the high fuel prices. Their optimism is anchored on the growth of the semiconductor and electronics industries.
