Segment results

Pressure on core business continues to grow

Swiss Post achieved a positive result in all four markets. Trends varied from market to market.

Communication market 

The number of addressed letters declined by 3.8 percent in the past year (2015: –1.4 percent). The number of unaddressed promotional mailings decreased by around 3.5 percent (2015: –1.7 percent). In 2016, PostMail recorded an operating profit of 317 million francs (previous year: 358 million francs). As a result of the transfer of private customer products from Post Offices & Sales and foreign currency effects, operating income rose to 2,906 million francs in 2016 (previous year: 2,820 million francs).

The operating profit generated by Swiss Post Solutions in 2016 was up 5 million francs year-on-year to 20 million francs. The improved result is due to cost reductions and efficiency improvement projects. At the same time, operating income fell from 609 million to 558 million francs.

In the past year, the operating result at Post Offices & Sales stood at –193 million francs (previous year: –110 million francs). In addition to the continuing decline in over-the-counter transactions, the fall in the result is mainly due to the adjusted internal performance mandate. The number of inpayments also declined by 5.4 percent year-on-year. Operating income fell to 1,196 million francs (previous year: 1,601 million francs).

Logistics market

The volume of parcels processed by PostLogistics rose by 5.7 percent year-on-year (2015: +3.0 percent). PostLogistics recorded an operating profit of 117 million francs (previous year: 145 million francs). The decline is mainly due to higher expenses arising from the transfer of product responsibility for private customer parcels. Thanks to the higher parcel volumes and increased demand for value logistics solutions, operating income rose to 1,572 million francs.

Financial services market

In 2016, PostFinance achieved an operating profit of 542 million francs, up 83 million francs year-on-year. The improved result is primarily due to non-recurring revenue from the sale of equity holdings and a participation. PostFinance recorded a significant decline in net interest income before impairment (–48 million francs).

Passenger transport market 

In 2016, PostBus again travelled more kilometres and transported more passengers. Around 152 million passengers travelled by Postbus – almost 7 million more than in the previous year. At 36 million francs, operating profit at PostBus exceeded the prior-year figure by 7 million francs. This was primarily due to the fall in fuel prices and to the expansion of products and services. Operating income rose by almost 9 percent to 923 million francs.