New letter prices approved as of 1 July 2019
The Federal Network Agency has provisionally approved the prices for letters and additional services that will apply from that date.
- Standard letters weighing up to 20 grams will cost 80 cents
- New stamps available in retail outlets or online as of 1 July
Bonn - Deutsche Post AG may demand higher letter prices from 1 July 2019. The Federal Network Agency has provisionally approved the prices for letters and additional services that will apply from that date. Since the approval process has not yet been completed on time due to third-party participation rights, the Federal Network Agency will probably issue the final approval in the next few weeks.
After more than three years of price stability, the price for standard domestic letters will increase of up to 20g by EUR 0.10 to EUR 0.80. In comparison, the average European charge for a standard domestic letter is currently EUR 0.97, according to an up-to-date comparison of 31 countries.
The prices will also increase by EUR 0.10 for the compact letter (Kompaktbrief) of up to 50g to EUR 0.95, for a large letter (Grossbrief) of up to 500g to EUR 1.55 and for a maxi letter (Maxibrief) of up to 1,000g to EUR 2.70. After more than fifteen years of price stability, the postcard will cost EUR 0.60 from July 1.
Some prices will also rise for additional services and cross-border letter mail items. Standard international letters (Standardbrief International) are thus to cost EUR 1.10. In comparison: The average European price in 31 countries of a Standardbrief item to other European countries is currently EUR 1.57.
Compact international letters (Kompaktbrief International) will in future cost EUR 1.70 and a postcard outside Germany EUR 0.95.
For business customers with large quantities of mail, the price increase from July 1, 2019 will be compensated to a large extent as part of downstream access including an infrastructure discount. Downstream access customers will be informed about the timing of the next discount adjustment in the second half of 2019.
New postage stamps and addendum stamps on sale in good time
For the stocks of postage stamps not used up by June 30, addendum stamps to the value of EUR 0.05, EUR 0.10, EUR 0.15, and EUR 0.20 are already available in the retail outlets and online at www.deutschepost.de/shop. The first stamps with the new postage rates will be available in the retail outlets and online in good time for July 1, 2019. Existing stamps and also addendum stamps from previous years can continue to be used for franking items sent via Deutsche Post. No exchange will be necessary. In addition, individual stamps for any desired postage charge can be printed by one of the 1,200 stamp machines throughout Germany at all times.
Information is also available at www.deutschepost.de/preisaenderungen2019.
Alexander Edenhofer
Mail Products & Services, Regulation Issues, Postal Policy, E-Mobility, Bonn Topics
DHL Group
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 20
53113 Bonn
Germany