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About Us / History

New times

In this era of globalization, there is a growing need for cross-border communication and logistics. Regions rather than countries are important to doing business. 

To meet these new challenges, the historic merger of Post Danmark A/S and Posten AB took place on June 24, 2009. As of May 2011, the Group is called PostNord AB.

For the first time, two national postal companies have formed a joint Group. With a total of nearly 800 years of industry experience and a strong presence locally, regionally, and globally, we have a solid foundation. With the Nordic region as our domestic market, PostNord will be the leading player in communications and logistics in northern Europe. 
 
Read more about today’s PostNord here at About us.

Digitalization

Digitalization presents us with two directly opposing market trends: while parcel volumes are rising, fewer and fewer physical letters are being sent.

Between 2010 and 2020, mail volumes fell by 49 percent in Sweden and by all of 78 percent in Denmark. Over the same period, parcel volume nearly double in the Nordic region.

Since different types of mail items in part require different sorting technologies and handling, our production has to be adapted if PostNord is to be able to grow with the market. Against this background, we are restructuring and optimizing our operations. The aim is to get more out of our existing terminals and networks. At the same time, we are investing in new infrastructure.

Development of letter and parcel volumes since the PostNord Group was formed

development-letter-and-parcel-volumes.jpg

More about our history

Post farmers and mail carriers

Christian IV’s “Forordning om Post-Budde” (Mail Carrier Decree) was enacted in December 1624. Twelve years later the Swedish council of state approved the ”Förordning om Postbådhen” (Mail Carrier Ordinance). This was the beginning of formal postal services in both countries.

Cross border

Sweden established a permanent post office in Hamburg in 1620. Dutchman Leonard van Sorgen was assigned the task of arranging postal service from Sweden to Hamburg.

Railways

The Danish postal service was quick to exploit the innovation of sending post by train. The first Danish railway line between Altona and Kiel opened in 1844.

By water

Initially, the many islands comprising the country of Denmark made it difficult to establish a reliable postal service to all areas. 

Automobiles

The New York Times reported in the summer of 1904 on a commission dispatched by the Danish government in Europe to investigate the usefulness of the automobile for short postal transports.

By air

Sending mail by air is not particularly modern – the ancient Egyptians used carrier pigeons. The bird of peace was used for postal transport through the Second World War. 

New times

In this era of globalization, there is a growing need for cross-border communication and logistics. Regions rather than countries are important to doing business.