PostNL: Stamps could soon rise even higher; CEO to step down next year

PostNL may need to again hike postage fees now that the government has decided not to allow it an extra day for delivering letters and cards in 2025, CEO Herna Verhagen said on Monday when presenting the postal service’s third quarter results. Verhagen also announced that she would be stepping down as CEO of PostNL in April next year.

The postal company is looking into increasing the prices for sending business mail and consumer mail. It may also increase the price of postage stamps further. Two weeks ago, the company already announced another stamp price increase. On January 1, samps will cost 1.21 euros, instead of the current 1.14 euros.

According to Verhagen, these price increases are unavoidable if PostNL is to be a future-proof and financially healthy postal service. Mail volumes have been declining for years, while costs continue to rise.

In the first three quarters of 2024, PostNL suffered a loss of 19 million euros. “For the third quarter, the total result was negative, as expected, mainly due to the result of Mail in the Netherlands,” Verhagen said. “The Parcels segment showed a positive improved result.”

The company expects its situation to remain volatile and for 2024 to end in a loss for the postal service. According to Verhagen, this underlines the need to reform the postal delivery system. She again asked the government for a subsidy and to amend the postal law so that letters don’t have to be delivered so often.

Verhagen also announced that she would step down as CEO after the general shareholders’ meeting on April 15 next year. She will formally hand over the position to Pim Berendsen, the current financial director of PostNL. The postal service hopes that this change in management, instead of bringing someone new in, will ensure stability and the continuity of PostNL’s strategy.