Facts & Figures

#1
Cross-border e-commerce is growing at nearly twice the rate of domestic e-commerce in most EU countries.
#2
Four billion parcels are being ordered online and delivered every year across the EU.
#3
Key features of postal operators’ e-commerce Interconnect Programme:
  • Harmonised set of services in both countries of origin and destination.
  • Full track-and-trace platform from posting to delivery
  • RFID barcode technology
  • Free Cross-border e-commerce return solution
  • Harmonised processes throughout Europe
  • Rapid resolution of handling customers queries through connecting call centres from up to 180 posts worldwide
#4
On average, both retailers and consumers can choose from  9 different operators for domestic parcel delivery and 8.1 different operators for cross-border delivery (including universal-service providers and their competitors), according to the updated 2018 data gathered by national postal operators across all 28 EU member states1.
Country No.of operators Domestic B2C delivery No.of operators Cross-border B2C delivery
Austria 6 Österreichische Post (Austrian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Hermes,
DHL Parcel
UPS
6 Österreichische Post (Austrian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Hermes,
DHL Parcel
UPS
Belgium 13 bpost (Belgian Post),
Bubble Post,
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Dynalogic,
Eurosprinters,
GLS,
Kariboo,
Kiala/UPS,
Mondial Relay,
Mikropakket,
PostNL,
Sprintpack
12 bpost (Belgian Post),
Asendia/Colissimo,
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Dynalogic,
FedEx,
GLS,
Kiala/UPS,
Mondial Relay,
Mikropakket,
PostNL,
Sprintpack
Bulgaria 6 Balgarski poshti (Bulgarian Posts),
Econt Express,
Speedy,
Starpost,
M&BM,
Tip Top Courier
10 Balgarski poshti (Bulgarian Posts),
Starpost,
M&BM,
Tip Top Courier,
GLS,
DPD,
FedEx,
DHL,
InTime,
TNT
Croatia 5 Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post),
Intereuropa,
Overseas Express,
Tisak,
GLS
4 Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Overseas Express
Cyprus 1 Cyprus Post 1 Cyprus Post
Czech Republic 27 Česká pošta (Czech Post),
GLS,
Zásilkovna,
BXB,
Česká Distribuční,
DHL Express (Czech Republic),
Direct Parcel Distribution CZ,
Global Box,
Haypost CJSC,
i-post solutions,
J + M logistika,
Jednota,
Kouzelná Almara,
Mediaservis,
Mechanika Prostĕjov 97,
Messenger,
MUFF,
Novanet Systems,
OVISION CZ,
PETR STŘÍBRNÝ,
Pošta CÍL,
SuperDoručovatel.cz,
TAU impex,
TNT Express Worldwide,
Uloženka,
UPS Czech Republic
ViS Post Express
20 Česká pošta (Czech Post),
BXB,
Česká Distribuční,
DHL Express (Czech Republic),
Direct Parcel Distribution CZ,
GLS,
GO! Express & Logistics,
Haypost CJSC,
i-post solutions,
J + M logistika,
Janzen,
Mediaservis,
Messenger,
RGW Express,
TAU impex,
TNT Express Worldwide,
Uloženka,
UPS,
ViS Post Express
Zásilkovna
Denmark 3 Post Danmark (Danish Post),
DAO 365,
VNL
3 Post Danmark (Danish Post),
GLS,
Bring
Estonia 3 Omniva (Estonian Post),
DPD,
Itella
3 Omniva (Estonian Post),
DPD,
Itella
Finland 5 Posti (Finnish Post),
Matkahuolto,
PostNord,
DB Schenker,
Bring
6 Posti (Finnish Post),
Matkahuolto,
PostNord,
DB Schenker,
Bring,
GLS
France 9 La Poste (French Post),
Colis Privé,
Kiala/UPS,
Mondial Relay,
Relais Colis,
Exapaq,
GLS,
UPS,
FedEx
10 La Poste (French Post),
Kiala/UPS,
DPD,
Toopost,
IMX,
GLS,
Relais Colis,
B2CEurope,
UPS,
FedEx
Germany 8 Deutsche Post DHL Group (German Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Hermes,
UPS,
Trans-o-flex,
FedEx,
TNT
8 Deutsche Post DHL Group (German Post),
DPD,
FedEx,
GLS,
Hermes,
Trans-o-flex,
TNT,
UPS
Greece 10 (Unlisted) 10 (Unlisted)
Hungary 6 Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Sprinter,
Express One,
Royal Sprint
8 Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
Express One,
DHL,
FedEx,
TNT,
UPS
Ireland 5 AnPost (Irish Post),
DPD,
Nightline,
Fastway,
GLS
5 AnPost (Irish Post),
DPD,
Nightline,
Fastway,
GLS
Italy 5 Poste Italiane (Italian Post),
Bartolini,
GLS,
TNT,
Fedex
6 Poste Italiane (Italian Post),
Bartolini,
GLS,
TNT,
Fedex,
UPS
Latvia 4 Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post),
DPD,
Itella,
GreenCarrier
3 Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post),
DPD,
Itella
Lithuania 6 Lietuvos paštas (Lithuanian Post),
Bijusta,
Omniva,
DPD,
Samus,
Venipak
2 Lietuvos paštas (Lithuanian Post),
Itella
Luxembourg 6 Post Luxembourg,
DPD,
Kiala/UPS,
Hermes,
Mondial Relay,
DHL Parcel
5 Post Luxembourg,
GLS,
DPD,
Hermes,
DHL Parcel
Malta 9 Malta Post,
Aramex,
Gozo Express,
Airsped Express,
Tubeline,
Gazelle,
GLS,
Arrow Express,
Miles Express
3 Malta Post,
Aramex,
GLS
Netherlands 6 PostNL (Dutch Post),
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Kiala/UPS,
GLS,
Hermes
5 PostNL (Dutch Post),
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Kiala/UPS,
GLS,
Hermes
Poland 11 Poczta Polska (Polish Post),
DPD,
DHL Parcel,
FedEx,
Geis,
GLS,
InPost,
Speedmail,
UPS,
X-Press Couriers,
Ruch
9 Poczta Polska (Polish Post),
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
FedEx,
GLS,
InPost,
Speedmail,
UPS,
X-Press Couriers,
Portugal 10 CTT Correios (Portugal Post),
Chronopost,
MRW,
Seur,
Nacex,
Adicional,
Rangel,
GLS,
Enviália,
Torrestir,
TNT
9 CTT Correios (Portugal Post),
Chronopost,
MRW,
Seur,
Nacex,
Rangel,
GLS,
Enviália,
TNT
Romania 8 Poşta Română (Romanian Post),
DPD,
Urgent Cargus,
GLS,
Fan Courier Express,
Sprint Curier Expres,
Nemo Express,
Posta Atlassib
8 Poşta Română (Romanian Post),
DPD,
Urgent Cargus,
GLS,
Fan Courier Express,
Sprint Curier Expres,
Nemo Express,
Posta Atlassib
Slovakia 17 Slovenská pošta (Slovakian Post),
Aramex,
DER KURIER,
DHL Express,
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Geis Parcel SK,
GLS,
GO4,
IN TIME,
INSPEKTA SLOVAKIA,
ReMax Courier Service,
Slovak Parcel Service (UPS),
SLOVENSKÝ DORUČOVACÍ SYSTÉM,
TNT Express Worldwide,
Uloženka,
Zásielkovňa
17 Slovenská pošta (Slovakian Post),
Aramex,
DER KURIER,
DHL Express,
DHL Parcel,
DPD,
Geis Parcel SK,
GLS,
GO4,
IN TIME,
FedEx express,
ReMax Courier Service,
Slovak Parcel Service (UPS),
SDS,
TNT Express,
Uloženka,
Zásielkovňa
Slovenia 18 Pošta Slovenije  (Slovenian Post),
TNT,
DPD,
GLS,
DHL Ekspres,
UPS Adria,
FedEx,
Intereuropa,
Slovenske železnice,
Gold Ekspres,
Global Express,
Bona J,
Kurirček,
Klade Logistika,
EC Logistics,
Venneti,
In Time,
Eurosender
12 Pošta Slovenije  (Slovenian Post),
DPD,
GLS,
DHL Ekspres,
FedEx,
Gold Express,
Intereuropa,
Slovenske železnice,
In Time,
EC Logistics,
Eurosender,
TNT
Spain 25 Correos (Spanish Post),
Seur,
Envialia,
Tourline,
ASM,
DHL,
TNT,
Fedex,
Resyser,
Sending,
ICS,
Rapid Express,
FLR,
May Courier,
UPS,
MRW,
Nacex,
Tipsa,
Halcourier,
Zeleris,
GLS,
FC Courier,
General Courier,
SPC Courier,
OCS
23 Correos (Spanish Post),
Seur,
Envialia,
Tourline,
ASM,
DHL,
TNT,
Fedex,
Resyser,
ICS,
General Courier,
OCS,
Rapid Express,
May Courier,
SCP Courier,
FLR,
UPS,
MRW,
Nacex,
Tipsa,
Halcourier,
Zeleris,
GLS
Sweden 4 Posten (Swedish Post),
DB Schenker,
Bussgods,
Bring
5 Posten (Swedish Post),
DB Schenker,
Bring,
Asendia ,
DHL Freight
United Kingdom 15 Royal Mail (UK Post),
APC,
CitySprint,
DPD,
DX S&C,
DX Freight,
FedEx,
Hermes,
Interlink,
Parcelforce,
TNT,
Tuffnells,
UK Mail,
UPS,
Yodel
13 Royal Mail (UK Post),
APC,
DPD,
DX Freight,
FedEx,
Hermes,
Interlink,
Parcelforce,
TNT,
Tuffnells,
UK Mail,
UPS,
Yodel

1Source: The figures above are the latest data (June 2016) obtained by national postal operators, except those marked in italics – which denote information from 2013.

#5
The number of parcel operators is actually growing rapidly.
In 2013, the average number of parcel delivery operators is 5 for domestic and 4.44 for cross-border. In 2016, it’s 7.68 for domestic and 6.75 for cross-border. Spain has the highest number of cross-border operators – 16 – while the Czech Republic has the most number of domestic operators – 20.
#6
How is cross-border delivery different from domestic delivery? What determines cross-border parcel delivery prices?
Factors influencing cross-border delivery prices:
  • volume of the dispatch
  • regularity of the dispatches
  • amount of trade flow between the two countries
  • market conditions
  • wage differences
  • fuel prices
  • population density of destination
  • geographical terrain
The e-commerce delivery value chain:
#7
How postal operators help retailers with e-commerce:
  • Assistance with building webshops
  • Delivery discounts
  • Market data
  • Email and postal advertising
#8
How postal operators help e-commerce end-consumers:
  • Track & Trace via website or mobile app
  • Notification by SMS, email or mobile app
  • Simpler return policies
  • A variety of different pick-up options: parcel lockers, corner shops, supermarket counters etc.