Swiss Post International continues success in cross-border business

Swiss Post achieved excellent results again in 2007. With group profit of 909 million Swiss francs (EUR 551 million), it beat the previous year’s figure by 72 million (EUR 44 million). Operating income rose by over 800 million francs (EUR 485 million) to 8,712 million (EUR 5,280 million). The international division, Swiss Post International, increased its operating income by 6 per cent to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million) and contributed 34 million francs (EUR 20.6 million) to the overall group profit.

Operating exclusively in the mail, parcel and express business, Swiss Post International (SPI) increased its revenue again in 2007. Having exceeded the billion mark in revenue the previous year, it achieved a further rise of 6 per cent in the last year to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million).

In the last year, SPI has been driving forward the expansion of its international network, which included the opening of a sales agency in Denmark at the end of March 2007. In October 2007, SPI became privileged sales partner of the German Hermes Logistics Group (HLG) for international B2C traffic in the European markets. Previously, SPI sold 30 per cent of its shareholding in Italian parcel and logistics company, Swiss Post Porta a Porta, to HLG. At the beginning of 2008, SPI also acquired the Swedish letter processor, IMS Europe AB, strengthening its position as a provider in the Swedish postal market. To strengthen its customs expertise, SPI took over FM Verzollungs AG in Basel on 1.1 2007.

Swiss Post achieved excellent results again in 2007. With group profit of 909 million Swiss francs (EUR 551 million), it beat the previous year’s figure by 72 million (EUR 44 million). Operating income rose by over 800 million francs (EUR 485 million) to 8,712 million (EUR 5,280 million). The international division, Swiss Post International, increased its operating income by 6 per cent to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million) and contributed 34 million francs (EUR 20.6 million) to the overall group profit.

Operating exclusively in the mail, parcel and express business, Swiss Post International (SPI) increased its revenue again in 2007. Having exceeded the billion mark in revenue the previous year, it achieved a further rise of 6 per cent in the last year to 1,145 million francs (EUR 694 million). Daniel Bättig, CEO of Swiss Post International Management AG, commented: “The 2007 annual result highlights that our high quality awareness and our expertise in the international postal business is still in demand.” Despite the increase in revenue, the operating result fell from 44 million Swiss francs (EUR 26.7 million) in the previous year to 34 million (EUR 20.6 million). This downturn was attributable to higher purchase costs for transport and delivery in the international export business and a negative one-off effect from the VAT payment for the Swiss import segment.

Stronger network

In the last year, SPI has been driving forward the expansion of its international network, which included the opening of a sales agency in Denmark at the end of March 2007. In October 2007, SPI became privileged sales partner of the German Hermes Logistics Group (HLG) for international B2C traffic in the European markets. Previously, SPI sold 30 per cent of its shareholding in Italian parcel and logistics company, Swiss Post Porta a Porta, to HLG. At the beginning of 2008, SPI also acquired the Swedish letter processor, IMS Europe AB, strengthening its position as a provider in the Swedish postal market. To strengthen its customs expertise, SPI took over FM Verzollungs AG in Basel on 1.1 2007.

International leader

With its consolidated growth path, Swiss Post International remains a leader among globally active postal service providers. “We expect annual growth of six to eight per cent in the next few years,” says Daniel Bättig. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss Post now employs around 1,200 staff in eleven European countries, five Asian countries and in the USA. In the international cross-border letter market, Swiss Post International takes fifth place behind Deutsche Post, United States Postal Service, the UK’s Royal Mail and France’s La Poste.