Courier service provider, DHL Express Australia, has opened a Gold Coast Service Centre to support small business exports.

According to DHL, the company anticipates growth in outbound shipments which is why it has invested $3.6 million in facility infrastructure.

The new Service Centre is more than 600 per cent larger than the previous facility, with a total floor space of 3,000 square metres, and features nine on-grade roller doors and separate freight and customer access areas.

Situated strategically within the industrial area of Molendinar, just off Ashmore Road, it will reportedly ensure easy access to key thoroughfares in the greater south-east Queensland region.

“The state of business in the Gold Coast region has only gone from strength to strength in recent years, thanks to the many clever local entrepreneurs who have worked hard to establish their own small business and take it to international markets,” said DHL Express Oceania CEO and Senior Vice President, Gary Edstein.

“These businesses make a significant contribution to the local economy, bringing local jobs and creating an environment of market positivity.

“Their can-do attitude and initiative in taking on new markets, as well as our commitment to help them succeed with our international networks, will bring their success to the next level,” he said.

According to DHL, Gold Coast small businesses are set to benefit from continuing positive state economic growth, with export volumes for Queensland rising 6.8 per cent in the year from 2016 to 2017.

The top export destinations for Gold Coast businesses using DHL Express include the US, followed by New Zealand, the UK and Canada – a reflection of the popularity of online shopping among consumers in these markets, with 31 per cent of US consumers making a cross-border purchase at least once a year, 58 per cent in New Zealand, 38 per cent in the UK, and 57 per cent in Canada.

In the last 12 months, there has been a 40 per cent increase in Gold Coast outbound shipments handled by DHL Express. The new Service Centre is expected to meet DHL’s projected shipment volume growth in the next ten years.

In June, DHL announced the opening of a new Melbourne distribution centre.