International parcels drop by 32% after EU imposes surcharge

The number of parcels sent from outside the Netherlands declined by one-third in the most recent three-month period, primarily due to stricter EU regulations, according to postal service PostNL's latest quarterly report. The 32% decrease was mainly attributed to a shift in shipments from Asia following the EU's introduction of a €3 surcharge per item on July 1.

This follows a 15% decline in the second quarter of the year, and PostNL anticipates the declining trend to persist after the import fees are raised by an additional €2 next month. The impact was somewhat mitigated by a 40% surge in parcel volumes within the EU, as Asian websites lost market share to European competitors as a result of the new measures.

However, the surge in domestic deliveries was "completely erased" by the drop in international shipments. PostNL's earnings rose by €6 million to €786 million in the third quarter, after the government eased restrictions on deliveries. Since July, PostNL has been obligated to deliver letters within two days, and this deadline is set to be extended to three days starting next July.

CEO Pim Berendsen views the extension of the delivery deadline to three days as a necessary interim measure aimed at ensuring the postal service's long-term survival, but he reiterated his demand for government compensation for the company's losses over the years. He emphasized that a long-term solution is required to address the current uncertainty faced by thousands of postal workers, customers, and consumers.

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