DPD, the GeoPost/La Poste European parcels subsidiary, has opened a new parcel sorting hub in theLatvian capital of Riga, which it claims is the largest such centre in capacity terms in the Baltic
region.The 2,900 sqm new facility can handled up to 140,000 parcels per day, compared to the 10,000daily shipments DPD Latvia has been handling to date.
“The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian small parcel delivery market usually is treated as oneBaltic country market,” said Vytautas Kudzys, DPD’s Baltic States managing director.
“That is why the terminal, which is built in a strategically convenient place, will increasetechnical capabilities not just in the country where it has been built, but in the neighbouringcountries – Lithuania and Estonia,” Kudzys added. Small parcel delivery is growing fast in theBaltics, he said, along with customer trust in the services.
DPD is expanding at a pace in the Baltics and last year opened a 2,400 sqm sorting hub in theEstonian capital, Tallinn.
The Latvian sorting centre is 4km outside Riga city centre and situated on a 9,600 sqm plotof land with over 70 pick-up and distribution gates. The parcel sorting conveyor is 1km long.
DPD Latvia’s turnover was EUR 3.4 million last year, 69% up on 2005. The DPD network in thecountry employs over 160 couriers and other staff.
Meanwhile, DPD Lithuania announced its parcel volume had shot up over 36% in the firstquarter of this year, compared to the same period last year, to 676,000 from 495,000 items. Salesgrew by 40% in 2006, on top of similar growth the year before, and a further 40% growth is expectedthis year, the company said.
“The company is experiencing essential changes at the moment,” said DPD Lithuania’s sales andmarketing director, Gintaras Bingelis. “At the end of last year, we changed the brand of thecompany (from BLS to DPD) and this month we have finished unifying the names of products andservices provided for market.
“The stable growth of parcels volume confirms that customers understood the meaning of thesechanges and proves that we have earned the trust of business customers and (that) the changes andimprovements are valued,” Bingelis added.
Growth was due to constant investment in developing and modernizing the business and improvedservices, he said.
