In 2019, the ZF estimates based on the market and Trade Register data show the companies in the mail and courier business posted more than RON5.2 billion lei, higher than in 2018. This year, the market should reach RON5.4 billion, according to ZF estimates.
The largest actor by revenue and number of employees remains Romania’s postal company Posta Romana. The state-owned company continues to operate although some postal offices have closed, and some cut their opening hours. On the other hand, the courier segment has seen an increase in B2C orders, while the B2B business remained unchanged or even declined as many companies closed their offices and sent their employees to work from home. This could also show in the volume of mail.
Lucian Baltaru, CEO of Sameday, the courier company of eMag, has recently said the volumes rose by 5% to 10% on the B2C segment, while the B2B volume stayed about the same. Adrian Mihai, co-founder of courier market leader FAN Courier said a number of companies, especially in the hotel, restaurant and catering business disappeared that generated a certain volume.
“The online has seen growth but this growth generated by the online sales has been unable to offset the B2B decline and the disappearance of those companies. From our surveys and the talks with our European partners in Italy and other countries, couriers in Europe have seen 15% to 50% decline compared with a normal period. It’s been said for a long time that we, the couriers, will have the upper hand, but that may be in the future, now this crisis on the market makes everyone stop spending, keep their money. The online will continue to grow,” the entrepreneur says.
On the other hand, the volumes of food deliveries have increased, and to make sure deliveries will continue, courier companies have implemented new measures and also launched products that limit contact between customers and the delivery person. Sameday introduced such a product, `Livrare fara griji’ (Carefree delivery) and Urgent Cargus is testing a service with little contact in Bucharest, which allows couriers to turn the parcels over to customers without the need for a signature, thus reducing contact between delivery people and customers as much as possible.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)