PostNL package volumes decline amid shifting EU import trends

PostNL reported a 7.1 percent decrease in package volume during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, even as average revenue per package rose by 4.1 percent. This shift indicates a strategic focus on higher value per shipment rather than sheer volume.

Concurrently, the implementation of a 3 euro import duty on small packages within the European Union has led to a significant drop in small parcels arriving from China. Customs data shows that the number of small non-EU packages in July and August was 46 percent lower than the average of the preceding six months.

In response to these regulations, many webshops are shifting toward bulk imports, storing goods in warehouses within the EU to facilitate local distribution. Customs officials noted that this trend, also observed in France and Belgium, makes it easier to monitor product safety compared to managing millions of individual small shipments.