DHL Express is sizing up a Houston expansion while getting ready to help U.S. shippers claw back roughly $1.8 billion in tariff refunds, tying a potential local growth move to a nationwide paperwork marathon. The twin efforts suggest Houston, already a heavyweight freight and port hub, could gain even more influence in DHL’s U.S. network as carriers and customs brokers adjust to a tricky federal refund rollout.
According to the Houston Business Journal, DHL CEO Greg Hewitt said the company is actively evaluating an operations expansion in the Houston area while DHL Group readies internal teams to support tariff refund administration that could reach about $1.8 billion for its customers. The report also notes that no site has been locked in and any new facility would still need a green light from corporate before construction or hiring can start.
How DHL Plans To Help Customers
DHL says its role in the refund wave will be mostly technical, tapping its customs-brokerage platforms, importer-of-record relationships and refund-tracking tools to help identify eligible shipments and submit claims if and when refunds are approved. The company points to services such as bonded warehousing, duty-drawback support and help with customs documentation as ways it can shepherd clients through the process, as outlined by DHL Express.
Federal Refund System Moves Ahead
The refund scramble stems from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that wiped out a set of emergency IEEPA tariffs, leaving roughly $166 billion in already-collected duties potentially refundable to importers. Reuters reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the Court of International Trade the new CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) portal is about 60 to 85 percent complete and cautioned that first-wave claims could take up to 45 days to process once submissions begin.
Why Houston Is In The Mix
Houston’s freight footprint makes it a natural contender. Port Houston logged a record 4.3 million TEUs in 2025 and is putting money into more berth and crane capacity to handle growing cargo volumes, according to Port Houston. On the air side, DHL has previously flagged Texas airports as potential gateways and hubs in its U.S. network planning, a setup that would move more Asian and European freight closer to Gulf Coast customers, as reported by FreightWaves.
What Comes Next
DHL has stressed that any Houston expansion remains preliminary and still needs formal corporate approval before site selection, construction, or hiring can get underway. Trade advisors and law firms are telling importers not to wait on that decision, though, and to get ready for CBP’s Phase 1 CAPE filing window. CSMS guidance indicates Phase 1 will allow ACE-based declarations, require enrollment for ACH refunds and rely on CSV templates for bulk claims, so companies are being urged to confirm ACE access or coordinate with their customs brokers now, according to Thompson Coburn.
If DHL ultimately plants a flag in Houston, the move could bring new jobs in sorting, customs brokerage and warehousing as the company scales up to handle both inbound freight and the flood of refund claims. For the moment, Houston is still on the shortlist, while local officials, landlords and freight players watch closely for any corporate sign-off and the first concrete signs of a site plan.
