In Belgium the addressed mail market annually represents around 385 mail items per person.
The sector directly employs 45,000 people.
The postal market can be segmented as follows :
- Addressed mail
- Express
- International mail
- Delivery of addressed dailies
- Non addressed items (which do not fall within the Postal Act of 21 March 1991)
- Parcels
- Related activities: document routing and processing.
Four major international integrators (DHL, FEDEX, TNT, UPS) are present and active in the sector of express mail delivery in Belgium.
We notice, for example, that now, Belgium plays a pivotal role in the world activities of DHL. 10 modern sorting centres are set up there. 8000 people are directly and indirectly working for DHL in Belgium and 300,000 people around the world. DHL international network links more than 220 countries and territories throughout the world.
In addition to these large integrators about 210 companies and self-employed workers are also active in the non universal postal sector in Belgium. These companies hold a declaration at BIPT.
10 companies hold a licence enabling them to deliver the universal postal service.
The company ABX (taken over in 2008 by the company DSV) is also present in the sector with 18 logistics regional centers.
Some mail companies have specialised in certain “niches” of the market: the company KIALA, for example, that puts parcels at disposal at 5100 delivery points, in five countries.
The competing posts of neighbouring countries are also challenging the Belgian market. We notice the emergence of mail companies that are highly specialised in some postal market segments, such as Deutsche Post.
DPD, is present in Belgium with a delivery of more than 7200 items per day, 500 own warehouses in more than 30 countries and delivery of 2 millions items per day.
The company G3 worldwide is responsible for the daily delivery all over the world of all kind of commercial mails, catalogues, invoices.
Newspaper delivery :
La Poste ensures the public service of newspaper early delivery (before 7.30 am) at reasonable price (see art 2 and 3 of the management contract between La Poste and the State). This delivery only concerns delivery of dailies to subscribers (+/- 130 millions of copies per year).
This postal service is non-reserved, which explains the presence of certain competitors.
Belgique Diffusion BD is a company which belongs to the Dutch Post. BD owns 13% of the market shares of newspapers delivery, mainly in Brussels and Antwerp.
Deltamédia is a subsidiary of La Poste, it provides for delivery of dailies to the subscribers of certain press groups, i.e. VUMedia and Uitgeversbedrijf De Tijd. Since June 2007 Deltamédia has given up delivery of non-addressed items.
Delivery of non-addressed items.
BD controls the non-addressed market with more than 75% of market shares. This company employs some 3500 independent workers.
Besides express operators and some operators of the universal service not included in the area reserved to La Poste, a routing market has also been developed in Belgium. This market is focused around about ten key players. 70 to 90 players are registered.
There are very few routers specialised in the processing of management mail. Speos, a subsidiary of La Poste is dominant in this segment.
As far as direct mail is concerned competition is more important but the market remains focused on some players among which Publimail, Evadix DMS, the group Joos, Arvato Print & Mail Services, Link 2 Biz, etc…