8 September (Dubai) – The Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) State of the Postal Sector 2025 lays bare the most pressing challenges facing the growth of the global postal network, which has seen postal sector growth lag by as much as 71% behind global economic growth, between 2006 and 2023.
“The postal sector is confronted with real challenges, but our data shows us that there are also significant opportunities ahead if we act quickly to leverage our strengths – our extensive global network and our experience as an essential services provider to billions. The time to transform the services we deliver through that network is now,” said UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki.Providing solutions
In its third edition, the report narrows in on merging international postal and logistics channels and broadening customer-focused services as priorities for reversing the growing postal-GDP growth gap.
The report explains that international transport disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused e-commerce platforms to find alternate routes and operating models, leading to a splintering of main postal corridors from 30-50 in 2019, to more than 150 different pathways today. This has significantly increased cross-border logistics costs as well as wait times for customers.
To reverse this effect and rebuild economies of scale for the postal network, and its partners, the report points to the creation of a “distributed postal grid” made up of multiple strategic regional postal transport hubs and standardized corridors.
Beyond improving inbound and outbound postal logistics, the report also finds that reducing dependence on letters while maintaining the density of national-level postal networks has proved to be a winning formula for successful posts.
A 10% reduction in letter post dependence, which can be achieved by introducing new, customer-focused postal services, narrowed the gap between postal and global economic growth by 9% between 2006 and 2023.
UPU analysis also reveals that closing post offices, which are drastic cost cutting measures to offset declining revenue, had a reverse effect on revenue growth – highlighting how a robust national network, especially in rural and underserved areas, can be used to catalyze the delivery of broader postal services.
Assessing country-level development
The report’s annual Integrated Index for Postal Development (2IPD) – which uses postal big data and official statistics to compare four indices of postal reliability, reach, relevance and resilience across 180 countries – also revealed massive untapped potential, with a 60-point gap between the highest and lowest performing posts.
However, standout performers in developing and emerging regions (Brazil, Estonia, Mauritius, Oman, Thailand) and “rising stars” with the greatest overall year-on-year improvement in postal development scores (Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uruguay) showed that targeted modernization efforts can propel even middle-income postal operators to excellence.
Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and Switzerland reached the highest Postal Development Level in 2024, with Swiss Post leading the global ranking for the 9th consecutive year.
Decision-making opportunity
The report’s findings come at a critical moment, as decision-makers from the UPU’s 192 member countries convene in Dubai over the next two weeks for the UPU’s 28th Universal Postal Congress.
The Congress will set the organization’s strategy and business plan for the coming four years.
A strong call to action for reversing international delivery network fragmentation through renewed postal multilateralism, postal sector growth through broader diversification choices, and eliminating the postal development divide between nations must now be translated into a tangible, investable roadmap for sustained growth.
Read the report here https://www.upu.int/en/publications/2ipd/the-state-of-the-postal-sector-2025.
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For press inquiries, please contact:
Yana Brugier, BrugierY@upu.int
About the Universal Postal Union (UPU):
Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the postal sector. With its 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, helping ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organization fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel, and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Yana Brugier, BrugierY@upu.int
About the Universal Postal Union (UPU):
Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the postal sector. With its 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, helping ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organization fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel, and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.