Posten Norge: Strong decline in mail volumes drives need for restructuring

Posten Norge’s revenue in the third quarter was NOK 5 643 million, representing a decrease of 2.8 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted operating profit in the third quarter amounted to NOK 126 million.

Both the decline in revenue and the profit must be seen in light of a record-high and increasing decline in mail volumes. In the third quarter of 2018, mail volumes dropped by 15.5 per cent.

„Market developments are driving the need for further restructuring of the postal network. Each household on average is now receiving only three items of addressed mail a week. This level no longer justifies the need for daily mail distribution. Alternative solutions will have to be found for customers with special needs, such as newspapers,“ says Tone Wille, CEO of Posten Norge.

Logistics segment

The logistics segment increased revenues by NOK 451 million to NOK 12 604 million year to date in 2018. Organic growth was 4.9 per cent. Adjusted operating profit for the logistics segment was NOK 87 million in the third quarter, NOK 10 million higher than the same period in 2017. The performance was impacted by a weak start to the year, mainly due to additional resources needed to implement the new terminal structure.

„It is gratifying that in the third quarter we can begin to see the effects of the previously announced streamlining measures in several areas, and that the adjusted profit for the logistics segment has increased compared with the same quarter last year. However, the overall profit for the logistics area is still not satisfactory, and work on improvement measures continues,“ says Wille.

The Norwegian parcel and freight network is undergoing an extensive restructuring process that will continue until 2020.

Mail segment

Revenue so far this year was reduced by NOK 979 million compared to 2017, to NOK 5 986 million. The main reasons were lower volumes, the sale of Bring Citymail Sweden and lower revenue due to the introduction of a single addressed mail stream from 1 January 2018.

„I expect the proposal for amendments to the Postal Act to be presented and discussed in the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) this fall. This is necessary in order for us to have adequate time to prepare for mail delivery every other day from 2020. The alternative is that the state’s payment for the purchase of unprofitable universal service obligations will continue to increase. Fewer fixed distribution days will not preclude good delivery solutions for mail and e-commerce parcels in the future too,“ says Wille.

In the third quarter, 91.5 per cent of addressed mail was delivered within two days, well above the 85 per cent requirement. So far this year, the proportion of letter mail delivered within two days was 90.3 per cent.

HSE

In the third quarter of 2018 sickness absence for the Group was 5.6 per cent, an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared with the third quarter of 2017. Sickness absence for the past 12 months remained unchanged from last year’s 6.0 per cent. The total number of occupational injuries per million hours worked (H2) was 9.1 in the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 2.8 compared with the same quarter in 2017. The injury frequency rate in the past 12 months increased from 7.9 as of September last year to 10.0 as of September this year.

Key figures Q3 2018 (Q3 2017 in brackets)

Operating revenues (MNOK)     5 643     (5 807)

Adjusted operating profit (MNOK)          126               (130)

Equity ratio % as of 30.09                          39.5             (39.3)

Return on invested capital (ROIC) %        8.4                (8.8)

Return on equity (after tax) %                    5.3                (0.6)

Financial performance trend as of Q3 2018 (Q3 2017 in brackets)

Operating revenues (MNOK)               17 487         (17 959)

Adjusted operating profit (MNOK)          284               (377)

Quelle: www.posten.no

Foto „head“: www.pixabay.com / geralt