Impact of the global economy and geopolitics on our business in 2025
The structural transformation in letter mail business continues: as conventional letter mail volumes containing documents continue to decline, volumes of goods shipments in the mail and parcel network are growing. The Dialogue Marketing business unit underwent negative development, with the advertising spend for physical advertising mail declining compared with the previous year due to inflation, reluctance to buy and structural changes in the media market. Despite subdued consumer sentiment in the German parcel market dampening the mood in online retail, parcel volumes increased.
Post & Parcel Germany: parcel business drives revenue and earnings growth
At €17,874 million, revenue in the Post & Parcel Germany division in the 2025 fiscal year exceeded the prior-year figure by 3.0%. The main contributors to this were higher prices and increased volumes in national and international business with goods shipments. Volumes in the German letter mail business declined as expected. The price rises as of January 1, 2025, only partially offset the fall in volume. The progressive digitalization of the media landscape resulted in declining sales volumes for advertising mail. At €5,054 million, revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the Post & Parcel Germany division was up by 3.8% versus the prior-year period.
EBIT in the Post & Parcel Germany division in 2025 amounted to €1,032 million and was 25.8% higher year on year. This includes a negative non-recurring effect of €60 million for restructuring measures. The prior-year figure included a positive net, non-recurring effect from developments in various legal disputes of around €70 million. Increased revenue as a result of price rises, growth in parcel volumes and strict cost management offset declining letter mail volumes and higher costs due to inflation, as well as the additional impact of collective bargaining agreements. The EBIT margin for the fiscal year was 5.8%. At €367 million, EBIT in the Post & Parcel Germany division in the fourth quarter of 2025 exceeded the prior-year figure by 12.8%. This was primarily due to higher revenue in the parcel business from increased parcel volumes, a peak-in-peak surcharge for business customers in the months of November and December, and cost discipline.
