UPU has published its world postal statistics for 2006 recording a strong growth in parcel volumesand postal revenues and an increase in letter volumes. Parcels traffic in 2006 rose by 4.8% with a
total of 6.235 billion items in domestic and international services compared to 2005.The biggest rise in domestic parcels traffic was registered in Africa with 11.7%. For theinternational service, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) saw thebiggest increase with 21.4%. In addition, the delivery of merchandises ordered via the internet isthought to be one of the growth factors.
Postal revenues increased by 13% to a total of $308.1 billion compared to 2005. This growthwas shared by three-quarters of UPU member countries. Letter post still generates more than half ofoperating revenue with 52.3%, but this figure was 7.7% lower than in 2005. Revenue generated byparcels and logistics services rose by 6% to contribute 27% of global revenue. Financial productsaccounted for 14% of revenue.
Letter volumes went slightly up compared to 2005 with a total of 433 billion mail items,returning to the same level as in 2000. Generally speaking, advertising items had a positive impacton mail volumes, which have faced heavy competition from electronic communications over the pastfew years. Volumes of international letter post decreased by 2% with 5.5 billion items, thoughthere were wide regional differences, with volumes up 8.1% in the Caribbean, and down a full 15% inAfrica.
