Austrian Post: We have stayed the course in a demanding market environment
Good revenue growth Q1–3 2026 in a challenging market environment
- Group revenue up 4.3% to EUR 2,306.8m
- New logistics business: euShipments.com and FHB Group included since March and August 2026 respectively
- Good parcel growth Q1–3 2026 in Austria – letter volumes continue to decline
E-commerce sales growth in all regions
- E-Commerce & Logistics +11.1% to EUR 1,372.3m: Parcel volumes in Austria increase by 7%; New e-commerce fulfillment business drives growth at Group Logistics Solutions
- Mail, Branch & Services revenue of EUR 834.2m (–6.2%) as a result of declining letter mail and direct mail volumes and the realignment of the telecommunications business
- Bank with slight increase in revenue to EUR 108.5m (+0.9%)
Earnings above previous year due to special effects in the third quarter
- EBITDA rises by 11.1% to EUR 328.0m
- EBIT increased by 1.8% to EUR 137.7m and includes positive one-off effects of around EUR 25m in the third quarter
Strategic transformation consistently continued
- Expansion of the integrated e-commerce logistics business by euShipments.com and FHB Group
- bank99 with good operating performance and significantly improved earnings
- YELLLOW mobile package on the market since April 2026
- Post ENERGIE powered by VERBUND new since November 2026
Outlook for 2026
- Slight increase in revenue expected for the full year 2026
- Due to the extraordinary effect on earnings in the third quarter, EBIT for 2026 is forecast to be at the upper end of the range of recent years – above the level of EUR 200m
REVENUE GROWTH DESPITE STRUCTURAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES
The market environment of the postal and logistics industry continues to be characterised by geopolitical and economic uncertainties, advancing digitalisation and new regulatory frameworks. While letter and advertising volumes are declining structurally, e-commerce continues to grow. However, national and international customs duties and fees are leading to uncertainty and thus to a subdued and volatile development of e-commerce parcel shipment volumes. This negative trend will continue in the coming quarters. Austrian Post is responding to these changes with a wide range of services, a strong position in the Austrian parcel market and the targeted expansion of its international e-commerce fulfilment business.
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SALES AND EARNINGS IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS
In the first three quarters of 2026, Austrian Post generated revenue of EUR 2,306.8m. This corresponds to an increase of 4.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. The growth driver was once again the E-Commerce & Logistics Division, which increased revenue by 11.1% to EUR 1,372.3m. In the parcel business in Austria, revenue rose by 8.9% to EUR 752.2m in the first nine months, while parcel volumes increased by 7%. Revenue growth was also achieved in the Turkey+ and Southeastern and Eastern Europe regions. Group Logistics Solutions increased revenue from EUR 40.5m to EUR 89.8m. This includes a revenue contribution of around EUR 45m from the new e-fulfillment companies euShipments.com and FHB Group.
The Mail Branch & Services Division recorded a decline in revenue of 6.2% to EUR 834.2m. The volume of traditional letters in Austria fell by 8.5%, while advertising volumes fell by 5.5%. Product and pricing measures for premium letters mitigated the effects of electronic substitution in the third quarter.
In the Bank Division, revenue of EUR 108.5m was generated in the first three quarters, which corresponds to a slight increase of 0.9% compared to the previous year. The good business development and positive effects from the recent increase in the ECB deposit interest rate had a supportive effect. “We continued on our course in a challenging market environment. The good development in the Austrian parcel business, the expansion of our integrated logistics business for cross-border e-commerce and the significant improvement in bank99’s earnings were particularly pleasing in the first nine months. At the same time, we are consistently driving forward the transformation of our business and countering the structural declines in the mail business with efficiency, innovation and new services,” says Walter Oblin, CEO of Austrian Post.
EBITDA rose by 11.1% to EUR 328.0m in the first three quarters of 2026. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 1.8% to EUR 137.7m, supported by positive one-off effects of around EUR 25m in the third quarter, in particular from the reversal of a provision in connection with the reimbursement of family allowances for civil servants. This was offset by an impairment of non-current assets in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, among other things. Net income for the period amounted to EUR 81.9m, compared with EUR 93.7m in the same period of the previous year. Earnings per share changed from EUR 1.35 to EUR 1.18 (–12.9%).
OUTLOOK 2026
The development of the past few months strengthens the existing outlook of a slight increase in revenue for the full year 2026. For the Mail & Branch & Services Division, revenue is still expected to decline in the mid-single-digit range. In the E-Commerce & Logistics Division, revenue growth is forecast to be in the upper single-digit range, supported by the integration of the newly acquired companies. The Bank Division is also expected to see an improvement in revenue and earnings.
Due to the extraordinary effect on earnings in the third quarter, EBIT is expected for 2026 to be at the upper end of the range of recent years, i.e. more than EUR 200m. The main factors of uncertainty continue to include an intensified decline in letter volumes and the uncertain short-term development of parcel volumes, which will be negatively impacted in particular by new national and international customs duties and fees. Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment (CAPEX) is expected to be in a range of EUR 120 million to EUR 130 million. “We are consistently investing in the future and performance of our logistics network. The focus is on the expansion and modernization of the logistics centers in Salzburg, Budapest and Žilina, the further expansion of our 24/7 network for parcel pickup, especially in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, and the electrification of the delivery fleet. In this way, we are creating the infrastructural prerequisites for further growth and at the same time strengthening the efficiency and sustainability of our logistics,” Walter Oblin concludes.
