Industry Statistics and Trends
Postal & Courier Activities in Europe key trends
Growing e-commerce transforms postal dynamics.
E-commerce growth is transforming the European postal and courier services industry, emphasising the need for efficient last-mile delivery and innovative logistics solutions.
Sustainable practices enhance industry competitiveness.
Adopting sustainable practices enhances the competitiveness of the European postal and courier services industry, meeting consumer demands for environmentally conscious and eco-friendly services.
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Postal & Courier Activities in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Postal & Courier Activities in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €220.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
The e-commerce boom drives parcel sales volumes
- The surge in e-commerce during the pandemic has significantly reshaped the operations and sales structures of postal and courier companies. According to Eurostat, online shopping in the EU continues to rise, with 77% of internet users purchasing goods online in 2024, compared to 59% in 2014. This growth in online orders has led to a notable expansion in parcel volumes, thereby boosting income opportunities for the industry.
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Postal & Courier Activities in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Postal and courier services will continue to deliver eco-friendly innovations
- Sustainability is a crucial focus in the industry as environmental targets approach, particularly under the EU's climate agenda, which aims to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This is prompting companies to intensify their sustainability efforts. The Netherlands, with companies like PostNL, is at the forefront of this movement by adopting electric delivery vehicles to reduce its carbon footprint. Its goal to achieve net-zero emissions and convert 100% of its delivery vehicles to electric by 2030 will require substantial investments to meet this target and facilitate its implementation.
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Revenue
€220.0bn
Employees
2m
Wages
€XX.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
- Latvia +11.0%
- Lithuania +9.0%
- United Kingdom +4.8%
- Belgium +4.6%
- Netherlands +4.4%
Bottom 5 Countries
- Luxembourg -6.4%
- France -1.5%
- Turkey 0.0%
- Bulgaria +0.1%
- Slovenia +0.1%
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Deutsche Post AG | 94,412.2 | 6,003.3 | 6.4 | |
La Poste SA | 35,675.2 | 3,640.3 | 10.2 | |
Royal Mail Group Ltd | 16,290.0 | 143.2 | 0.9 |
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Postal & Courier Activities in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe is €220.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 256k businesses in the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe include?
Parcel services and Domestic letter services are part of the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Postal & Courier Activities industry is France.
How competitive is the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Postal & Courier Activities industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Postal & Courier Activities in Greece
- Postal & Courier Activities in Romania
- Postal & Courier Activities in the UK
- Postal & Courier Activities in Norway
- Postal & Courier Activities in Germany
- Postal & Courier Activities in Estonia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Postal & Courier Activities in Iceland
- Postal & Courier Activities in Europe
- Postal & Courier Activities in Luxembourg
- Postal & Courier Activities in Russia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Italy
- Postal & Courier Activities in Poland
- Postal & Courier Activities in Slovakia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Slovenia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Sweden
- Postal & Courier Activities in Latvia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Croatia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Austria
- Postal & Courier Activities in France
- Postal & Courier Activities in the Netherlands
- Postal & Courier Activities in Belgium
- Postal & Courier Activities in Cyprus
- Postal & Courier Activities in Lithuania
- Postal & Courier Activities in Finland
- Postal & Courier Activities in Bulgaria
- Postal & Courier Activities in Spain
- Postal & Courier Activities in Portugal
- Postal & Courier Activities in Hungary
- Postal & Courier Activities in Czechia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Turkey
- Postal & Courier Activities in Serbia
- Postal & Courier Activities in Switzerland
- Postal & Courier Activities in Denmark
- Postal & Courier Activities in Ireland
- Postal & Courier Activities in Malta
- Postal & Courier Activities in the UK
- Postal & Courier Activities in Germany
- Postal & Courier Activities in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry includes postal and courier activities, such as picking up, transporting and delivering letters, parcels, documents, newspapers and marketing material under various arrangements. Local delivery and messenger services are also included.
Related Terms
LogisticsCOURIERDEPOTWhat's included in this industry?
Parcel servicesDomestic letter servicesInternational letter servicesOtherCompanies
Deutsche Post AGLa Poste SARoyal Mail Group LtdIndustry Code
53 - Postal and courier activities in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
The e-commerce boom drives parcel sales volumes
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Digital transformation drives productivity in postal services. Digital transformation initiatives enhance productivity within Europe's postal and courier services industry, optimising operational processes and shaping the future of postal services.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Concentration fuels market dominance. Concentration within the European postal and courier services industry fosters market dominance, consolidating power among a few key players and influencing pricing and service standards.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Deutsche Post AG
- Countries of operation for La Poste SA
- Countries of operation for Royal Mail Group Ltd
- Countries of operation for FedEx Express
- Countries of operation for Poste Italiane SpA
- Countries of operation for PostNL Holding B.V.
- Countries of operation for Osterreichische Post AG
- Countries of operation for bpost SA
- Countries of operation for Swiss Post Ltd
- Countries of operation for Sociedad Estatal de Correos y Telégrafos SA
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
High barriers to entry hinder new entrants. The European postal and courier services industry features high barriers to entry, including substantial capital requirements and established networks, limiting the entry of new competitors.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Intense competition squeezes profit. The postal and courier services industry faces falling profits in Europe due to intense competition, prompting aggressive pricing strategies and reduced profit margins.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Postal & Courier Activities in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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