Norway Post’s operating revenues as at 30 September 2011 came to NOK 16,883 million, an increase of 2.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. The operating profit before non-recurring items and write-downs for the third quarter was NOK 299 million, an increase of NOK 54 million from the previous year. The accumulated operating profit as of the third quarter was NOK 595 million, a drop of NOK 49 million compared to the same period last year. The reasons for this drop include strong competition and higher transport and distribution costs.

Norway Post’s profitability programme, Spinnaker, has had a positive effect of NOK 2.3 billion since 2008.

”Norway Post is working to improve profitability throughout its operations. At the same time, acquisitions are being made in accordance with our Nordic growth strategy in order to improve our services to customers,” says Dag Mejdell, the CEO of Norway Post.

Growth in logistics
The logistics revenues rose by 5.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. The market has improved, especially in Sweden, and resulted in good growth in volumes in most logistics areas.

Norway Post strengthened its position in the Swedish market in the third quarter by buying IntertranspedIA and Ytrans, two Swedish logistics companies.

”These acquisitions are part of the Group’s strategic focus on Sweden and help to strengthen our position as a cross-border carrier of goods to and from the Nordic region,” says Mr Mejdell.

Letter volumes are continuing to decline. In total, the A-mail and B-mail volumes fell by 7 per cent compared to the same period last year. However, the volume of unaddressed advertising  mail increased by 2 per cent. Unaddressed advertising mail thus makes up 53 per cent of the total letter volume.

So far this year, the overnight delivery quality of A-mail has been 86 per cent, which is an improvement of 2.7 percentage points compared to last year. Norway Post has met the quality requirement stipulated in its licence in each quarter of 2011.

Good HSE results
The Group works both long-term and systematically in relation to health, safety and the environment. The Group’s sickness absence rate was 7.1 per cent as at 30 September 2011, a reduction of 0.7 per cent compared to the same period last year.

For further information, please contact:
Norway Post’s press telephone: (+47) 95148000
Chief Press Officer, Hilde Ebeltoft-Skaugrud, tel: (+47) 92249477