Brandwave

How popular isDHL?

In September 2026, people searched for DHL by name about 42,600 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 43.4% of all New Zealand freight and logistics company searches, placing DHL first out of seven companies. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about freight and logistics companies, DHL appeared in three of the four answers and was the second most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

DHL is the most searched of 7 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. DHLShare of searches 43.4%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. MainfreightShare of searches 26.2%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. FedExShare of searches 21.4%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. FliwayShare of searches 5.1%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. MOVe LogisticsShare of searches 1.9%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th

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Top freight and logistics companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, DHL was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. DHL is the second most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Mainfreight1st
  2. DHL2nd
  3. Fliway3rd
  4. MOVe Logistics4th
  5. Toll5th
  6. FedEx6th
  7. Big Chill–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Mainfreight4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • DHL3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Fliway2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • MOVe Logistics2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • FedEx1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Toll1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Big Chill0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about freight and logistics companies

4 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which freight or logistics company should I hire in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Mainfreight
    2. 2Fliway
    3. 3DHL

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best freight and logistics companies in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Mainfreight
    2. 2DHL
    3. 3Fliway
    4. 4MOVe Logistics
    5. 5Toll
    6. 6FedEx

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best freight or logistics company in New Zealand for an overseas shipment?”

    1. 1Mainfreight
    2. 2DHL

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “freight forwarders nz”

    Google showed no AI Overview for this search.

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “logistics companies nz”

    1. 1Mainfreight
    2. 2MOVe Logistics

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which freight and logistics companies compete with DHL?

DHL against freight and logistics companies in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for DHL, Mainfreight, FedEx, Fliway. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDHLMainfreightFedExFliwayMOVe LogisticsBig ChillToll
Oct 202541.2%28.4%20.4%5.4%1.9%1.6%1.2%
Nov 202536.9%31.7%20.2%6.1%2.3%1.6%1.1%
Dec 202542.8%26.8%19.6%6.6%1.8%1.4%1.1%
Jan 202641.9%29.4%18.7%5.6%2.1%1.4%0.92%
Feb 202640.5%30%18.2%6.2%2.5%1.7%0.93%
Mar 202643.3%26.7%19.6%5.7%2.3%1.6%0.83%
Apr 202644.9%26.3%19.4%5.2%2%1.4%0.75%
May 202641.9%25.7%22.6%5.4%2.1%1.5%0.78%
Jun 202644.2%25.4%21.1%5.5%1.9%1.2%0.73%
Jul 202644.2%24.6%21.7%5.6%2%1.2%0.74%
Aug 202642.8%23.9%23.8%5.1%2.4%1.2%0.74%
Sep 202643.4%26.2%21.4%5.1%1.9%1.1%0.86%

  1. 1.DHL

    43.4%

    Held 1st. 42.4K estimated branded searches, +0.07% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.Mainfreight

    26.2%

    Held 2nd. 25.6K estimated branded searches, +8.4% vs prior month. Share +2.3 points.

  3. 3.FedEx

    21.4%

    Held 3rd. 20.9K estimated branded searches, -11.1% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  4. 4.Fliway

    5.1%

    Held 4th. 4.9K estimated branded searches, -2.9% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.MOVe Logistics

    1.9%

    Held 5th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -20.8% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  6. 6.Big Chill

    1.1%

    Held 6th. 1.1K estimated branded searches, -7.5% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Toll

    0.86%

    Held 7th. 840 estimated branded searches, +15.1% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between DHL and its closest rivals

Every comparison with DHL

15 comparisons

How has branded search demand for DHL changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for DHL in New Zealand held steady, from 42.4K to 42.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DHL’s share of searches among freight and logistics companies in New Zealand increased from 41.2% to 43.4%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DHL’s share of searches among freight and logistics companies in New Zealand peaked at 44.9% in April 2026 and was lowest at 36.9% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand freight and logistics companies in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Mainfreight gained share of searches among freight and logistics companies in New Zealand, from 23.9% to 26.2%.

  2. In September 2026, DHL gained share of searches among freight and logistics companies in New Zealand, from 42.8% to 43.4%.

  3. In September 2026, FedEx lost share of searches among freight and logistics companies in New Zealand, from 23.8% to 21.4%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Big Chill in New Zealand fell 30.6% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1.1K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Toll in New Zealand fell 29.4% over 12 measured months, from 1.2K to 840 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Fliway in New Zealand fell 10.7% over 12 measured months, from 5.5K to 4.9K in September 2026.

How are DHL’s branded searches counted?

15 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DHL’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • DHL
  • dhl couriers
  • dhl ecom
  • DHL Express
  • dhl freight
  • dhl logistics
  • DHL Lower Hutt
  • DHL Manukau
  • dhl shipping
  • dhl supply chain
  • DHL Tauranga
  • DHL Timaru
  • dhl tracking
  • DHL Whangarei
  • my dhl

Do you work for DHL? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does DHL compete?

DHL is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
courier and parcel delivery companies4th of 86%Show ranking
Freight and logistics companies1st of 743.4%Shown above
Customs brokers1st of 841.4%Show ranking
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