DHL Supply Chain will build a 32,000 sqm multi-client logistics platform at Escrennes, in France’s Loiret department, to serve pharmaceutical distribution and the broader Life Sciences & Healthcare sector. The site sits between Paris and Orléans, on a seven-hectare plot bought from JMG Partners. Delivery is set for the fourth quarter of 2027, with operations targeted for the second half of 2028 once the necessary regulatory clearances are in place.
Strategic Rationale
The location gives DHL access to France’s largest pharmaceutical market and to one of the country’s main healthcare production basins. Christof Debrun, recently appointed CEO of DHL Supply Chain France, called the Escrennes site a strategic step for the French unit. The platform is built to handle pharma flows nationwide, not just regionally. That national reach is the point.
Built for Regulated Goods
The warehouse follows the standard template for pharmaceutical storage. Ambient control runs between +15 and +25°C. A dedicated cell can be added at +2 to +8°C for temperature-sensitive products, and a separate zone will handle dangerous goods. DHL is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification for the building, in line with the energy and design standards now expected on regulated-goods sites.
The timeline is fixed and the regulatory clock is ticking. The open question is which Life Sciences clients DHL signs before the doors open in 2028.
