PostNL Sees Decline in Package Deliveries, Especially from Asian E-commerce

PostNL experienced a decrease in package deliveries during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2022. The primary driver of this decline is a reduction in packages originating from Asian e-commerce retailers. Overall, the volume of international parcels handled by PostNL dropped by 15 percent. This trend is partly attributed to the introduction of a 3-euro levy on goods imported from outside the EU, effective July 1st. Although the reported figures predate the full impact of this fee, Asian webshops had already anticipated higher costs, influencing their shipping volumes. PostNL CEO Pim Berendsen noted this preparatory action amplified the observed effect. Domestically, PostNL also saw a roughly 4 percent decrease in parcel deliveries within the Netherlands. Despite the lower parcel volume, the company's revenue remained stable at 1.6 billion euros for the first half of the year. The long-standing decline in letter and card volumes continued, with an almost 8 percent reduction in the first half of 2023. This segment remains a net cost for PostNL. To address this, the company was granted permission to extend letter delivery times to two business days, a change that will be further formalized by law next year, allowing up to three days for delivery to ensure the long-term viability of postal services.