Ireland’s An Post to increase letter rates from next month

Ireland’s An Post is set to increase its postal rates from next month to stem “unsustainable” financial losses within its universal postal service business. The basic rate for domestic letters up to 100g in weight will rise by 2c (3%) to 70c, with the basic international letter rate for up to 100g rising 5c (5%) to EUR 1.05.

The state-owned postal service said it will leave its existing Meter rate for Standard Post letters unchanged at 66c per item. An Post has also left parcel rates largely unchanged.

The company said even with the rate increases its rates would remain “among the lowest” in the EU 15 countries that includes the UK, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and “well below” the EU domestic average of 77c.

Deutsche Post’s latest annual European letter price survey, published last month, put the Republic of Ireland (prior to July’s increase) about mid-table for the Europe as a whole, above the 66c European average. The An Post rate increase would put Ireland about 12th among the 31 members of the EU and EFTA.

“Value”

An Post said it needed the rate increases to help counter the losses being incurred by its one-price-goes-everywhere universal service obligation, which totalled EUR 38m in 2014.

A spokesperson said: “An Post continues to offer excellent value for money to Irish businesses of all sizes and to personal customers.”

Among other price increases, the starting rate for registered domestic mail will rise 10c to EUR 6.10, although registered domestic parcel rates are frozen.

Domestic express letter rates up to 1.5kg will rise 5c, the basic rate becoming EUR 6.05, but express parcel rates are frozen.

An Post’s PostAim service for bulk pre-sorted advertising mail sees the basic rate, for letters/cards up to 50g (2,000-75,000 pieces) increase 2c to 47c.

Publicity Post services, for unaddressed bulk leaflet delivery, sees its basic rate increase by EUR 1 to EUR 103.30 for up to 25,000 items 20g in weight.