La Poste endured its first drop in parcel deliveries in 2022, with net profit rising 11%, but anticipates a “more difficult” 2023 and wants to grow in digital and local services. “The year 2022 was characterized by a very difficult economic situation with slowing growth, the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices and widespread inflation,” acknowledged Philippe Wahl, CEO of La Poste.
However, “we see strong resistance in the group’s activity and results”, greeted the leader. Billing increased by 2.3% compared to 2021 to 35.4 billion euros, as did net profit (+11%), excluding exceptional items. For the first time, parcel transport marked an era in 2022 with 2,600 million packages delivered (-3% in one year) after an exceptional year in 2021.
In France, Colissimo volumes were down sharply by 10% and even Geopost (express parcels, including Chronopost in France) were down by 1% due to slow markets in Germany and the UK. However, the subsidiary’s turnover has increased, approaching 15,600 million euros (+6%), thanks to price increases.
historical incentive
The parcel business now represents more than half of La Poste’s turnover, while traditional mail continues to fall with an 8% drop in 2022. La Banque Postale, the group’s banking subsidiary, has reported an increase of 66 % in its net profit up to 1,060 million euros, in particular thanks to the 100% integration of CNP Assurances. As a result of these positive results, “the profit sharing will be the highest ever awarded,” announced Philippe Wahl. It will amount to 958 euros per employee, compared to 592 euros last year.
If 2023 promises to be a difficult year according to Wahl, he insisted on two growth vectors: digital “which will experience an acceleration in its uses” and the new local services offered by La Poste. Digital represents 900 million euros of turnover and covers secure and sovereign digital activities in the cloud. “This is an area in which we have a future”, detailed Philippe Wahl. In December, he revealed his ambition to increase the turnover of this activity to “several billions in the next few years”.
Domiciliary services
The personal services sector, which has a turnover of 700 million euros, is “a great challenge”, according to the person in charge of La Poste. With the gradual aging of the population and what Philippe Wahl calls “residential change in old age policy”, there is “a considerable field” to be conquered. La Poste “advances in the delivery of medicines” and is already “a leader in the delivery of meals,” he greeted. “We delivered 3 million meals last year to a target market of 40 million,” he insisted. La Poste already offers personal assistance services or home visits such as the “Take care of my parents” activity, which will therefore be developed.
Finally, the group’s management recalled its ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by 2040 with 100% of last-mile and long-distance deliveries made with clean vehicles. The company’s carbon emissions should have decreased by 90% by then, with the remaining 10% linked to the use of aircraft, essential for certain activities. Therefore, these emissions will be offset. The Banque Postale, for its part, has already announced its withdrawal from oil and gas by 2030.
Source: BFM TV
