Turnover courier service companies slumps in first half of 2009

In the first six months of this year, turnover generated by courier service companies was nearly 13 percent down on the same period in 2008. Courier service companies lose customers on account of the ongoing economic recession.

Turnover down due to declining activities

A less active market is almost entirely accountable for the loss of turnover. The volume of courier service companies and local mail service providers slumped by over 13 percent in the first half of 2009, despite a price increase by 1 percent in this period. In the second quarter of 2009, prices dropped marginally by 0.2 percent.

In 2008, courier service companies still achieved good results. Total turnover grew by 8 percent to nearly 2.5 billion euro, prices rose by more than 4 percent.

Turnover courier service companies and local mail service providers

Turnover dominated by large companies

Approximately 3 thousand courier service companies and local mail service providers are active in the Netherlands. Most of them are small companies. Total turnover is mainly generated by a handful of large companies. In 2008, large companies, which make up less than 1 percent of the total number of companies, accounted for 71 percent of total turnover in the branch. Small-scale companies (95 percent of all courier service companies) generated 14 percent of total turnover.

Company size and turnover courier service companies and local mail service providers

André Weber