Belgium's bpost posted substantial growth on its parcels division in the first quarter of 2019. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the company saw its turnover from parcels and logistics increase by 11 per cent to 87 million euros.
Parcel volume grew by 16.9 per cent in these countries. This growth was partly due to e-commerce. Figures from Active Ants, which bpost has owned since May 2018, also contributed to that increase. At DynaFix, also part of bpost's e-commerce arm, turnover actually decreased.
Record drop in domestic mail
The figures contrast sharply with bpost's other results. Never before has bpost seen domestic mail volume fall so sharply. In the first quarter of 2019, domestic letter volume fell 9.2 per cent, with profits falling from 63.7 million euros to 50.2 million euros. Operating profit (ebitda) was slightly higher, but turnover fell by 10 million euros to 906.8 million euros.
