Swiss Post staff sorted or delivered some 194 million parcels last year in Switzerland, which represents a drop of 4% over one year. At the same time, the decline in the volume of letters sent continues.
The drop in the number of parcels distributed is explained in particular by a tense consumer climate since the start of the war in Ukraine, with a decline in online orders, the Post Office said in a press release on Tuesday. In addition, many merchants last year postponed orders for goods, or were unable to place orders, due to global supply difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the year 2022 was the first since 2019 without any measure against Covid-19 in Switzerland, recalls the yellow giant. The population was therefore once again able to shop in stores throughout the year and resorted less to deliveries.
The absolute record for the number of parcels delivered in 2021 could therefore not be beaten. But in comparison with 2019, the year preceding the pandemic, the Post Office however transported 30% more packages last year, she notes. The upward trend observed for several years therefore continues, even if it is less strong than during the two years marked by the coronavirus.
Fewer letters
The downward trend for letters also continues. Letter carriers distributed 1,745 million in 2022, which also represents a 4% drop from the previous year. Over the past ten years, the total volume of letters has fallen by about a third.
Fewer letters, more packages: this trend observed for several years will continue, warns the yellow giant. To cope with this development, it created around 230 new jobs in the field of sorting and distributing parcels last year. Two new regional parcel centers were also opened in Rümlang (ZH) and Buchs (AG).
Now about half of the letter carriers also deliver parcels. Thanks to this reorganization, Swiss Post was able to preserve jobs, but also to become more flexible in the face of the short-term increase in parcel volumes. From now on, mail centers are able to sort up to 200,000 mini-parcels per day.
ats/vkiss