Belgian Post succeeded in improving its profitability last year despite the sharpest fall in mailvolumes in recent years and aims to be ready for full opening of the European mail market in
January 2011.The Belgian national postal operator saw mail volumes decline by 4% in 2009 which was anacceleration compared to falls of -2%, -0.1%, -1% and -1% in 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005respectively. The decline, which was felt in all mail segments to varying degrees with theexception of unaddressed mail, was driven by the economic crisis and continuing e-substitution.Group revenues fell only 0.8%, however, to €2,244 million thanks to higher prices.
At the same time, Belgian Post managed to reduce operating costs significantly to €2,003million from €2,041 million in 2008. This was achieved through “drastic economy measures”, with theworkforce being reduced by just over 1,000 staff to 29,574 employees. A new collective agreementwas signed last July for 2009 – 2010, and a deal has been sealed with unions over the plannedrestructuring of the network and introduction of lower-paid delivery workers (‘auxiliary agents’).
As a result of these developments, Belgian Post improved its operating profit (Ebit) by 8.2%to €240 million last year. The company said its net profit for 2009 will be higher than in 2008,partly due to non-recurring positive effects. The final results for 2009 will be confirmed at theannual shareholders meeting on April 21, 2010.
Belgian Post said it also stepped up its environmental activities last year with itsambitious project Green Post. This targets a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2012 based on 2007figures. Last year, the company reduced CO2 emissions by more than 16%.
CEO Johnny Thijs said: “Belgian Post became stronger and greener in 2009. Our financialhealth has been maintained in the face of the crisis and we have agreed a strategic partnershipwith the WWF to reduce our ecological footprint to a minimum. We also succeeded in finding balancedsolutions to issues such as the collective agreement and the auxiliary agents.”
Looking ahead, he added: “In 2010, we will have to pursue our efforts without weakening,while reinforcing our ambitions with regard to reliability and quality. We will thus be ready forJanuary 1, 2011, the date of the full opening of the postal market.”
