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Sorting system from DHL in Cologne: fashion and sporting goods packages are currently in fashion again
Photo:
Rolf Vennenbernd / dpa
At Christmas, Deutsche Post is again benefiting from a very high volume of parcels in the corona crisis.
The start of the pre-Christmas business with the weekend around the discount days "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" was even stronger than in the previous year and also stronger than generally expected, said Tobias Meyer, Swiss Post's board member responsible for the German letter and parcel business "Rheinische Post".
Overall, however, there will probably be no further increase compared to 2020.
"Since then, the quantities have been around the level of the previous year, in some cases slightly below," Meyer is quoted as saying about the deal after the discount days.
It is unlikely that "the enormous numbers from the previous year" would be surpassed again, said Meyer.
"But the level is of course massively higher compared to 2019."
Operating profit expected of 7.7 billion
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the yellow parcel carriers had delivered almost 500 million shipments.
From 14 to 19 December 2020 alone, Deutsche Post DHL transported 61.3 million parcels - more than ever before in a week.
With a view to Christmas 2021, Meyer had already shown himself rather cautious in October and did not venture a record forecast.
The pandemic has given parcel service providers such as DHL or competitors such as Hermes and DPD a strong boost overall.
People order a lot more programs on the Internet, either because the stationary shops have been closed in the meantime or because walking into the city center is generally avoided.
The 2G rule is currently causing restrictions in many shops.
Post boss Frank Appel, who wants to retire in 2023, had recently shown himself to be extremely satisfied.
"The bottom line is that we have already made more profit than in the whole of 2020," he said after the third quarter.
For 2021 he expected an operating profit (EBIT) of 7.7 billion euros.
Board member Meyer has now revealed to the "Rheinische Post" that there are differences in the type of broadcasts over the course of the year.
Fashion and sporting goods packages are currently in fashion again, said Meyer.
"Likewise pharmacies and drugstores, which had enormous growth in online business during the entire pandemic."
apr / dpa