Belgium: Postage stamps will become more expensive again from 2025, a parcel will cost 1 euro extra during the end-of-year period

Bpost is making stamps more expensive again. From January 1, a non-priority stamp (issued within three working days) will cost 1.53 euros per piece or 1.49 euros for a sheet of ten pieces. For a priority shipment (delivery the next day), the stamp will cost 2.37 euros, or 2.33 euros for a sheet of five.

Bpost is making stamps more expensive again. From January 1, a non-priority stamp (issued within three working days) will cost 1.53 euros per piece or 1.49 euros for a sheet of ten pieces. Today the stamp costs 1.46 euros each. For a priority shipment (delivery the next day), the stamp will cost 2.37 euros, or 2.33 euros for a sheet of five. It currently costs 2.27 euros.

The rates for sending parcels will also increase by an average of 2 percent for both domestic and international shipments, the postal company says.

Inflation, higher labor costs and declining mail volumes

The price increases refer to inflation, higher wage costs and declining mail volumes. “These rate adjustments are necessary to continue to provide a quality postal service and to remain financially healthy given the challenges facing the postal market,” it said in a press release

If inflation turns out to be higher than anticipated – that is, if the central index is exceeded a second time in the course of 2025 – a further rate increase of 3 percent could follow, it said.

According to bpost, the impact on the family budget would remain limited. “For most users, this means an increase of only 15 to 20 cents per month. After all, 85 percent of customers today choose the non-priority stamp and 99 percent buy stamps in sheets of 5 or 10 to enjoy the lowest rate.” Stamps purchased before January 1, 2025 also remain valid.

Just like last year, bpost also charges a surcharge for sending parcels during the upcoming end-of-year period. It is 1 euro per pack. “We want to compensate for the extra costs incurred during this particularly busy period and promote a better distribution of shipments outside this period,” it said.

In accordance with postal legislation

According to BIPT, which must approve the new rates, this concerns a price increase of a maximum of 6.06 percent – including the additional 3 percent if the central index is exceeded a second time – “which is in accordance with the applicable postal legislation”. An individual non-priority stamp would cost 1.58 euros with the additional price adjustment. In that case, the prior stamp would cost 2.44 euros.

The regulator does note that the price of the non-priority stamp in 2025, with the rate adjustments of previous years, amounts to a price increase of “more than half in six years”. She recently pointed out in a comparative study the extensive price differences that exist with the most important neighboring countries, with the Belgian postage stamp being among the most expensive in Europe.

BIPT also pointed out on Friday the “declared value” option – which is insurance against loss, theft or damage of a registered shipment – the cost of which remained unchanged for years, but which will now suddenly increase from 5 to 15 euros from 1 January 2025.