AI infrastructure boom is reshaping global logistics, Dimerco says

At a supply chain summit in Taipei, Dimerco Express Group marked its 55th anniversary by warning that the rush to build AI data centers is creating a new, fast-growing logistics challenge. Industry leaders said the move from chips to full AI infrastructure is driving demand for complex, time-sensitive freight across Asia and beyond.

Why it matters: - AI infrastructure is becoming one of the fastest-growing logistics markets as companies race to build the data centers that power artificial intelligence. - The shift is increasing demand for coordinated transport, customs clearance and delivery of oversized, high-value equipment across global supply chains. - McKinsey projects global data center capacity demand could almost triple by 2030, requiring nearly $7 trillion in investment.

What happened: - Dimerco Express Group hosted its "Beyond the Next Horizon" Supply Chain Summit in Taipei as part of its 55th anniversary. - More than 150 customers and supply chain experts attended the event. - Dimerco CEO Jeffrey Shih said AI infrastructure is creating a more complex logistics environment than traditional consumer electronics. - Colley Hwang, chairman and CEO of DIGITIMES, said semiconductor and technology executives are focusing more on hardware bottlenecks in AI data center construction.

The details: - AI infrastructure includes thousands of components made in multiple countries before a data center can operate. - The equipment must move from manufacturers across Asia to hyperscale data centers under construction worldwide. - Shih said the shipments include servers, switches, cooling units and power systems that must be manufactured, transported, cleared through customs, stored and delivered safely and on time. - He said companies must now manage trade compliance, tighter export controls, shipments worth tens of millions of US dollars, delicate handling and tightly timed deliveries. - Hwang said the industry’s questions have shifted from "What can AI do?" to "Where does computing power come from?" - The summit said AI infrastructure is also reshaping the air cargo market. - Premium air freight demand is rising as AI servers, networking equipment and other high-value components move from Asian manufacturing hubs to data centers worldwide. - Dimerco Chairwoman Catherine Chien said global shipping, trade compliance and bonded warehousing services position Dimerco to move AI equipment from Asia to data centers around the world. - Chien said, "AI may be powered by chips, but it's enabled by logistics." - Dimerco Express Group was founded in Taiwan in 1971, is listed on the Taipei Exchange under ticker 5609 and operates more than 300 service locations on a cloud-based digital logistics platform. - Dimerco said the company provides international air freight, ocean freight, contract logistics and supply chain solutions. - The company's website is More information.

Between the lines: - The logistics bottleneck is shifting upstream. AI demand is no longer just about semiconductors and software; it now depends on moving complete physical systems across borders without delays. - The air cargo market stands to benefit as AI deployments demand faster, safer and more specialized transport than standard freight can provide. - The comments from Dimerco executives frame logistics as a strategic constraint, not just a back-office function, for AI buildouts.

What's next: - Global demand for data center capacity is expected to keep rising through 2030, which should keep pressure on freight networks, customs systems and bonded storage capacity. - As AI infrastructure deployments accelerate, logistics providers are likely to face more demand for specialized handling, compliance support and precise scheduling. - Dimerco is positioning its global network and freight services to capture more of that growth.