The strategic alliance between DHL eCommerce and CTT Expresso has been officially formalized with the signing of an agreement that aims to reshape the parcel delivery landscape in the Iberian Peninsula. Through a joint structure, both companies seek to strengthen their presence in the B2B and B2C segments, bolster international shipments, and establish themselves as leading logistics providers in Southern Europe, with a clear focus on e-commerce and out-of-home delivery services.
The agreement, signed in San Sebastián (Donostia) , has been months in the making and required approval from European competition authorities. The companies are discussing a combined network capable of handling over one million shipments per day and generating around €1.000 billion in combined revenue, with a clear focus on e-commerce and out-of-home delivery services.
Alliance structure and main objectives
The collaboration is structured through a specialized joint venture that combines capabilities considered complementary by both companies. It is not a typical merger or a complete operational integration: each company will continue to manage its day-to-day operations with a "business as usual" approach, maintaining its structures and brands, but under a shared strategic umbrella.
The stated objective is to build the most comprehensive, efficient, and competitive parcel delivery network in the Iberian Peninsula, one of Europe's most important markets in terms of e-commerce volume. To achieve this, the alliance aims to raise the standards of reach, efficiency, and service quality in both Spain and Portugal.
In terms of positioning, the agreement significantly strengthens the role of both companies in the B2B, B2C, and out-of-home services segments . The combination of their networks aims to improve connectivity within the Iberian Peninsula and international connections, especially those related to cross-border e-commerce flows.
DHL eCommerce and CTT Expresso representatives have emphasized that the alliance is designed for the long term, with a strategy aligned with 2030. No immediate, drastic changes are anticipated for customers, but rather a gradual rollout of joint initiatives that will be implemented on top of existing operations.
Role distribution: B2B, B2C and operations in Spain
One of the key points of the agreement is the division of responsibilities by service type and market . In Spain, the business focused on end consumers will be handled by CTT, which will operate under the CTT Express brand, while DHL eCommerce will concentrate its activity on business clients and international shipments.
In this way, CTT Express will take over the B2C segment and last-mile delivery, with solutions focused on the end consumer and the growing demand from e-commerce. Its experience in consumer distribution and its extensive network across the country are two of the assets the alliance intends to leverage more effectively.
For its part, DHL eCommerce Spain will focus its efforts on B2B and cross-border shipments , maintaining its brand and its role as a logistics partner for companies with national and international operations. The company will leverage its established network in Spain and its capacity to manage high-volume parcel flows between different countries.
Both companies will retain their brand identity and commercial structure, although the agreement anticipates a high degree of coordination in proposals for clients with operations across the Iberian Peninsula. This way, a single e-commerce operator can leverage a unified network in Spain and Portugal without needing to manage separate providers.
In practice, the agreement allows companies operating on both sides of the border to benefit from more homogeneous and less fragmented coverage , an aspect that until now posed a logistical and contractual challenge for many online operators.
Corporate structure and operation in Portugal
The agreement includes a cross-shareholding structure designed to align the interests of both companies without completely diluting their existing structures. CTT Expresso will acquire a 25% stake in DHL eCommerce Spain, while DHL eCommerce Spain will in turn acquire a 25% stake in CTT Expresso, including its operations in Portugal.
In the Portuguese market, the move is particularly significant: DHL eCommerce's business in Portugal will be transferred to CTT Expresso . From that point forward, CTT will handle and deliver DHL eCommerce shipments in the country, operating under the CTT Express brand in both Portugal and Spain.
This configuration aims to leverage CTT's deep knowledge of the Iberian market and its strong presence in the last mile, while integrating DHL's ability to manage international shipments and large volumes geared towards corporate clients.
The companies emphasize that the alliance's design aims for balanced and sustainable long-term development , tailored to the specific characteristics of each national market. The idea is to combine capabilities without forcing a complete homogenization of business models, something that often generates friction in more aggressive integration processes.
In addition to the 25% minority stake, the agreement includes the possibility of increasing these positions to 49% at a later stage, should both parties deem it appropriate. This option leaves the door open for a greater degree of future integration without compromising current operational independence.
Operational capacity, lockers and out-of-home services
According to figures provided by the two companies, the combined networks will allow them to handle more than one million shipments daily , with aggregate revenues of around €1.000 billion. This scale is designed to respond to the sustained growth of e-commerce in the Iberian Peninsula.
One of the plan's key pillars is the promotion of out-of-home services , meaning deliveries outside the recipient's usual residence. In this area, the alliance plans to install 10.000 new parcel lockers across Spain and Portugal over the next few years, thereby strengthening a network of alternative collection points.
This type of infrastructure aims to offer greater flexibility to consumers while simultaneously optimizing last-mile operations, reducing failed delivery attempts, and improving overall delivery efficiency. With a denser, shared network, companies expect to reduce transit times and enhance the end-user experience.
CTT Expresso, for its part, relies on extensive network coverage and a proven track record in last-mile delivery . This combination of territorial coverage and specific solutions for the end recipient is one of the arguments with which the joint venture intends to differentiate itself in the Iberian market.
Impact on e-commerce in Spain and Southern Europe
The agreement between DHL eCommerce and CTT Expresso comes at a time when demand for e-commerce logistics services continues to grow in Spain and Portugal. The Iberian Peninsula has become one of the most dynamic online consumer hubs on the continent, forcing operators to expand their capabilities and improve their value propositions.
For e-commerce businesses operating in both countries, the alliance opens the door to simplified shipping management , as they can work with a coordinated network covering both Spain and Portugal. This can translate into less contractual complexity, faster delivery times, and a more consistent customer experience.
Greater internal and external connectivity can also benefit companies that export or import products through the Iberian Peninsula , by providing integrated solutions for cross-border shipments managed by one operator with global reach and another with strong regional roots.
Furthermore, the investment in lockers and out-of-home collection points aligns with current consumer trends, where customers seek greater control over when and where they receive their orders . This flexibility is especially relevant in urban and suburban environments, where last-mile logistics face greater challenges.
The alliance, in short, is part of a consolidation trend in the European logistics sector , in which large companies seek local or regional partners to strengthen their presence in key markets without losing operational agility.
Company profiles and long-term roadmap
DHL eCommerce is part of the DHL Group, a group with a presence in more than 220 countries and territories and nearly 400.000 employees worldwide. The group recorded revenues of around €82.900 billion in 2025, reflecting the global scale of its logistics operations.
CTT, parent company of CTT Expresso and CTT Express, is one of the leading logistics operators specializing in e-commerce in the Iberian Peninsula. Its portfolio includes express parcel delivery, postal shipments, business solutions, financial services, and retail operations, in addition to its presence in the banking sector through Banco CTT.
The company employs more than 14.000 people and achieved operating revenues of nearly €1.288 billion in 2025 , almost half of which came from its eCommerce Solutions division. Among its key goals is the commitment to electrify 100% of its last-mile delivery fleet by 2030, an objective that aligns with the growing environmental demands in the sector.
For DHL eCommerce, the alliance is part of its 2030 strategy to strengthen connectivity in the Iberian Peninsula and consolidate its role in the e-commerce segment, one of the group's most important growth drivers globally.
Overall, the collaboration between the two companies is envisioned as a more robust Iberian platform , designed to absorb the expected increase in parcel volumes in the coming years and to offer more specialized solutions to businesses and consumers.
With the formalization of the agreement, DHL eCommerce and CTT Expresso are launching a joint structure designed to maximize the combined strengths of their networks, experience, and territorial presence. Through the joint venture, the division of roles by segment, and cross-shareholdings, the alliance aims to become a leader in parcel logistics in the Iberian Peninsula, offering businesses and end users a broader, more flexible network better equipped to meet the challenges of e-commerce in Spain, Portugal, and throughout Southern Europe.
