PostNL’s letter post division will post a loss over last year because fewer Christmas cards were sent than usual, the company said in a results update on Monday.

The results of the letter post division were “poor”, the company said, adding that staff shortages and high absenteeism rates were also pushing up wage costs.

“The results in December were hardly sufficient to compensate for the losses over the rest of the year,” the company said. Earnings were down €30 million on 2023.

Parcel deliveries were up 10.5% in volume terms, but this too was below forecasts, and large clients are demanding bigger discounts, the company said.

PostNL will publish its full-year figures next month, but the company is using the interim figures to apply further pressure in its campaign to change the postal delivery law to allow it longer delivery times.

PostNL has already cut the number of post delivery days from six to five and is pressing for longer delivery times. However, opposition from MPs forced economic affairs minister Dirk Beljaard to retract his support for the plan. The company also wants to be able to empty post boxes during the day rather than after 5pm.