International
Not many people are aware that PostNL now delivers more addressed letters outside the Netherlands than at home. Our market share is 21% in the UK, 6% in Germany and 7% in Italy. Although the volume of mail is declining in these countries just like it is in the Netherlands, we are successfully increasing our market share abroad, thus making this area a growth market for us on balance.
TNT Post UK is increasing its focus on small and medium-sized enterprises in addition to large corporate clients. Despite the decrease in postal rates prompted by growing competition, revenues last year rose by 25% to €550 million. In Germany, revenues grew by 69% to €396 million. Revenues rose in Italy, too. The 24% increase can be attributed in part to the winning Formula Certa, an innovative method of registered mail in which a GPS scanner is used to furnish proof of delivery.
Outside the Netherlands, PostNL focuses on addressed mail. In 2010, this strategy resulted in the sale of a number of companies in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.