The company said the first quarter of this year has seen a 19% growth in outbound parcel volumes compared to the same quarter in 2012.

Some of the increase has come because of the improving economy in the United Arab Emirates.

But Emirates Post has also improved its parcel services with better transit times and pricing, providing features like parcel insurance.

The biggest growth has been seen in shipments going to China, which more than doubled volumes compared to the first quarter of 2012. Outbound volumes to India jumped by 41%, while package volumes to Sudan increased 29%.

Ibrahim Bin Karam, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates Post, said: “The robust growth in our Express Parcel service is a result of enhancements introduced by Emirates Post to make the service more attractive. On another level, it reflects the accelerating pace of business activity in the UAE.”

Bin Karam said the parcel volume growth came down to the “excellent” international transit times and the accessibility of the UAE’s 115 post offices, along with an “unbeatable” price.

Emirates Post said its post offices are now geared up for both individual and corporate customers to send international parcels, with various durable boxes available.

Bin Karam said: “Customers who send international parcels through Emirates Post also benefit from favourable bilateral agreements with postal administrations in different countries and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), leading to reduced duties and taxes. For example, a 20kg parcel to Saudi Arabia by air costs just AED 134 ($36.4 USD), to India AED 206 ($56), to the UK AED 473 ($129) and the Philippines AED 373 ($101.6). This makes our Express Parcel service very cost-effective.”

Source: Post&Parcel/Emirates Post

Tags: cross-border parcel, Emirates Post, UAE