Of Costa Ketsietzis
The significant changes brought to the market of postal services and couriers by the coronavirus pandemic and the explosion of e-commerce show the data recently published by the National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT).
According to the EETT report for 2020, in the first year of the pandemic, 72 million parcels and small packages were handled, approximately 32.7% more than in 2019, while the corresponding revenues increased by almost 20% to 338.7 million euros.
The increase in parcel shipments led to many problems and delays in deliveries, but also to a significant increase in the turnover of companies in the sector that amounted to a total of 645 million euros from 637 million euros in 2019.
In addition, many companies in the industry have invested to meet the growing demand. According to the market review by EETT, investments in the computer upgrade and support of operations with new technologies, the construction and support of modern sorting centers, as well as extraordinary expenses and investments to deal with the pandemic conditions, led to an increase in fixed equipment by average 11%.
Market shares
2020 was a year in which many new companies appeared, as a total of 591 companies with general license were active in the Greek postal market, ie 75 more than in 2019, nine companies with special license (special distributions) as well as ELTA as a provider. universal service.
Courier companies recorded revenues of 428.2 million euros, increased by 16.2% compared to 2019 and handled 106 million items, 25.9% more than in 2019.
Despite the large number of players, the largest volume of postal items was handled by just six companies, which respectively generated most of the revenue of the postal market.
In 2020, the six largest companies handled 87.7% of postal items, accounting for 83.8% of courier market revenue.
For 2020, 67% of the revenues of the Greek postal market came from the distribution of postal items within the country, which correspond to 89%. Most of the postal items were transported from Attica (72%) and Macedonia (12%) inland and abroad.
The same areas were also the most popular destinations of items trafficked inside and outside the country. Specifically, 42% of the items were trafficked to Attica and 17% to Macedonia.
The largest volume of postal items shipped from abroad to Greece came from the EU (61%) and Asia (28%), while the shipments of postal items abroad were mainly destined for the EU (58%). and the US-Canadá (16%).
Complaints increased
Naturally, in 2020, the number of complaints also increased. ELTA received 11,918 complaints in 2020 (increased by 14.6% compared to 2019), for a total of 176.7 million handled postal items.
The remaining Special Licensing providers received 15,574 complaints out of a total of 46.1 million handled items and the General Licensing providers received 14,108 complaints out of a total of 106 million handled items.
Dispute settlement issues between consumers and General Licensing providers mainly concerned delays, loss of postal items and damages.
Source: Capital
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