Spain's parcel shipments outpace letters for first time in 2025

The 2025 Annual Postal Sector Report from the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) shows that Spain processed 1.335 billion parcels, a 10 % increase over 2024 and 148 % above 2019 levels. In the same year, traditional mail (letters, postcards, administrative notices and direct advertising) fell 8 % to 1.164 billion items, representing half the 2019 volume and about a third of the 2015 level. Parcel revenue reached €7.325 billion, up 10 % year‑on‑year and 86 % above 2019, while the traditional segment earned €1.146 billion, a modest 3 % rise but still 17 % below its 2019 earnings.

Correos retained an 84 % share of the traditional mail market and held 16 % of the parcel market. The number of registered postal operators grew from 1,765 to 4,565 over the past decade, reflecting increased competition driven by e‑commerce logistics. Public administrations accounted for 30 % of traditional mail volumes, and a household panel indicated that only 14 % of citizens sent letters, while 43 % received letters from businesses and 43 % received administrative notices.

The shift underscores the accelerating impact of online shopping on Spain’s postal landscape, with most parcels (86 %) delivered to home addresses and a growing share delivered to convenience points and automated lockers.