The prices of Posti’s Mail Services paid in cash will change on March 31, 2022. Letter services paid in cash include, for example, domestic and international letters that are paid by stamps and included in universal service.
Finnish consumers spend, on average, less than EUR 20 per year on sending letters. For the average Finnish consumer, the price adjustment means an increase of less than EUR 2 in a year.
Currently, households only receive an item with a postage stamp on average once every three weeks
Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated inflation. In the logistics sector in particular, rising energy prices have a material and direct impact on Posti’s costs. We have implemented many changes in our own operations to curb the cost pressures.
In the 2000s, the number of letters has fallen by almost 70% as a result of digital communications. The volume of addressed letters decreased by 8% in 2021. The number of letters sent by consumers decreased even more, by significantly more than 10%. This downward trend in the volume of printed mail is not about to stop. If the current pace of decline continues, the volume of letters is estimated to drop by as much as 50% from its current level in the following years.
Posti’s operations are financed by service charges paid by customers, and the company is not subsidized by the State.
Increases aimed at ensuring universal service in the whole country
“People still love getting genuine letters and cards, and we believe that the demand for them will continue for a long time to come. That being said, we are being forced to raise our prices in order for the postage fees to cover our costs with the delivery volume shrinking,” says Tuija Åkerman, Consumer Mail Business Unit, Posti.
The handling and sorting of stamped letters include several manual work phases, from collection to sorting and delivery. We visit about three million households and businesses on weekdays. By adjusting the postage to cover the costs of the delivery network, Posti is able to ensure universal service in all of Finland.
Domestic letters are divided into four weight categories according to the weight in grams. The price of a domestic card or letter weighing no more than 50 g will be EUR 1.95 as of March 31, 2022 (EUR +0.10).
The price of an international Priority postcard or letter weighing no more than 20 g will be EUR 2.05 (EUR +0.10).
The price of Christmas greetings will increase to EUR 1.40 (EUR + 0.10).
All domestic weight classes will be priced in multiples of the no-value indicator stamp’s price. In the lightest class (1–50 g), the postage of a letter or postcard equals one no-value indicator stamp; in the next weight class (51–250 g), the postage equals two no-value indicator stamps; and in the third weight class (251–1,000 g) the postage equals four no-value indicator stamps. In the heaviest weight class (up to 2 kg), the postage equals six no-value indicator stamps.
All domestic and international no-value indicator stamps bought before the price increase will be accepted without additional stamps after the price increase. Old 1st and 2nd class no-value indicator stamps can still be used. Their value equals the domestic no-value indicator stamp and will be EUR 1.95 as of March 31, 2022.
There will be no actual changes in products and services. However, the delivery terms will be slightly updated. You can view the delivery terms on Posti’s website at https://www.posti.fi/terms
The new fees for all letter services are available in the price list on Posti’s website at https://www.posti.fi/prices
The changes will not affect the prices of Posti’s contract customers.
Stamps are available at about 3,000 sales points or via Posti’s online shop at https://shop.posti.fi/en
