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Business
03 March 2025

Australia Post Reports Strong Half-Year Earnings Despite Competition

The postal service sees financial growth from strategic investments and modernization initiatives.

Australia Post has reported significant financial growth for the period ending December 31, 2024, showcasing their resilient operational strategies. The half-year financial results indicate the postal service achieved an interim profit of $249.1 million, reflecting an impressive increase of $215.5 million from the same period of the previous year.

The company’s group revenue reached $5.01 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.3 percent. A total of 262 million parcels were delivered across Australia during the first half of the financial year 2025, marking a three percent rise compared to the prior corresponding period. This surge propelled revenue from parcels up to $3.53 billion, a six percent improvement over the last year.

Letters revenue also increased by 10 percent year-on-year to $943.5 million, with losses reducing by more than half, now at $83.7 million. According to Paul Graham, Group CEO and Managing Director of Australia Post, these results are indicative of the transformative efforts conducted under the Post26 strategy alongside modernization reforms. “These results demonstrate the material improvement we’ve achieved across most areas of the business as we execute on our Post26 strategy and implement the Modernisation reforms,” Graham stated.

Graham attributed the positive financial performance not only to strategic initiatives but also to the effort of Australia Post’s workforce. “This would not have been possible without the support of our 64,000 team members who, day after day, deliver for our customers and community,” he remarked. The combination of effective strategies and peak period performance has established substantial short-term positive responses from the company.

Nonetheless, Australia Post faces notable challenges moving forward, particularly within its parcels division. Graham expressed concerns over structural and competitive headwinds, highlighting a decrease of 10.6 percent in letter volumes. “The Parcels sector is becoming increasingly competitive, as we see global disrupters making significant investment in Australia, along with a rise in new entrants and start-ups,” he explained, indicating the intensified competition faced by Australia Post.

While the eCommerce sector has shown modest growth, Graham emphasized the unique contributions Australia Post provides to the Australian economy, job market, and community wellness. “Australia Post is competing against providers who don’t make the same important contribution to Australia’s job market, economy, and community well-being,” he noted. This differentiation, he argued, is pivotal to sustaining the company as they leverage their established brand and long-standing history.

Looking forward, Graham warned about the outlook remaining challenging for the second half of the financial year. “We cannot afford to be complacent because we have seen an improvement in our first half bottom line, which is traditionally profit-making. Competition is intensifying, and our traditional revenue streams are shrinking,” he cautioned.

The strategic initiatives implemented throughout Australia Post express not only optimism about growth but also awareness of the complex dynamics of the marketplace. The company’s focus on modernization along with the adept handling of peak periods has offered encouraging results, yet the need for vigilance and adaptation persists.

Overall, as Australia Post navigates through these competitive waters, it is clear they are committed to maintaining their position as a leading postal service provider, championing not just operational effectiveness, but also their deep-rooted connection to the Australian community.