2009 Postal Sector Report
In its special report “Post 2009: Setting a Course for Competition”, the Monopolies Commission describes the development of competition in the letter markets since liberalisation as dismal. The liberalisation, which formally took effect on 1 January 2008 with the abolition of the exclusive licence for letters weighing up to 50 g held by Deutsche Post AG, was – as expected – by the retention of the VAT exemption for Deutsche Post AG and the introduction of the minimum wage for letter carriers.
The Monopolkommission welcomes the new Federal Government’s plan, set out in the coalition agreement, to promote the development of competition in the letter markets. The Monopolies Commission views positively the competitive developments in the courier, express and parcel services sector, which have proven to be a key driver of growth and a source of job creation in the postal market in recent years.
Deutsche Post AG’s market dominance in the letter post sector has not only been maintained but actually strengthened in 2008. This marks a continuation of the exceptionally high returns on turnover that Deutsche Post AG has been achieving in the letter post sector for several years.
