PostNL has made a mixed start to 2025, with low revenue growth thanks to rising parcels volumes but also a bigger overall loss due to higher costs, and remains cautious about the outlook for the rest of the year.
In parallel, the Dutch postal group is pressing ahead with various commercial and operational changes ahead of presenting a medium-term strategic update in September.
Deeper losses
In the first three months of the year, PostNL increased revenue to €782 million but the operating loss widened to -€15 million (vs -€9 million in Q1, 2024) due to a continued high organic cost increase of €31 million, which was mainly labour-related. The net loss also deepened slightly to €10 million.
CEO Pim Berendsen, who took over from Herna Verhagen last month, commented: “The first quarter of the year developed as anticipated. With the main business trends as seen in 2024 continuing into the new year, we are mitigating the impact from changing market dynamics as much as possible.”
He stressed: “We are fully focussed on the strategic initiatives announced in February. Implementation is progressing according to plan and the first positive signs from targeted yield measures are now visible. Other concrete measures to adapt our operations have resulted in further efficiency improvements and we have achieved costs savings both at Parcels and Mail in the Netherlands.”
Parcels growth
