Energy and inflation surcharge on domestic parcel services

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Rising energy and fuel prices as well as general inflation are leading to much higher costs for Swiss Post’s logistics, especially when it comes to parcel processing. This is why, from 2023, Swiss Post is introducing a variable energy surcharge and inflation surcharge on domestic parcel services for business customers with individually agreed prices (known as “unit prices”).

The surcharges at a glance

  • Energy surcharge for the current month: CHF 0.06 per parcel (April 2024 figure, price in CHF, excl. VAT)
  • Inflation surcharge: 1.9 percent on the parcel price. For contracts concluded from 1 January 2024, the inflation surcharge will no longer be charged separately. The “valid from” date shown on the terms and conditions sheet is authoritative.

Energy surcharge

Services affected

Unit prices for the following products: PostPac Priority, PostPac Economy, Bulky goods Priority, Bulky goods Economy, Swiss-Express “Moon”, Bulky goods "Moon", VinoLog Priority, VinoLog as well as the relevant business reply labels and returns of these products.

Type of surcharge

Surcharge in CHF per parcel

Surcharge amount

Value according to price table

Calculation basis

Development of energy costs, weighted by Swiss Post’s energy mix for the vehicle operations for parcel and letter delivery in the Logistics Services unit

Adjustment frequency

Monthly update by the third working day of the month (taking data availability into consideration); applicable to all parcels invoiced in the respective month (invoices are issued the following month)

The calculation and monthly figures of the energy cost index and the surcharges can be found here:

Price table: development of energy surcharge (PDF, 115.6 KB)[Media | Not Accessible]

Inflation surcharge

For contracts concluded from 1 January 2024, the inflation surcharge will no longer be charged separately. The “valid from” date shown on the terms and conditions sheet is authoritative.

Services affected

Unit prices for the following products: PostPac Priority, PostPac Economy, Bulky goods Priority, Bulky goods Economy, Swiss-Express “Moon”, Bulky goods "Moon", VinoLog Priority, VinoLog as well as the relevant business reply labels and returns of these products.

Type of surcharge

Surcharge in percent on the parcel price (including any value-added services integrated in the unit price)

Surcharge amount

1.9% (For contracts concluded from 1 January 2024, the inflation surcharge will no longer be charged separately. The “valid from” date shown on the terms and conditions sheet is authoritative.)

Calculation basis

Inflation rate based on the National Consumer Price Index (adjusted for fuel costs)

Adjustment frequency

Valid until revocation, subject to adjustments in the event of more significant fluctuations. Any amendment shall be subject to a notice period of three months. For contracts concluded from 1 January 2024, the inflation surcharge will no longer be charged separately. The “valid from” date shown on the terms and conditions sheet is authoritative.

Details on the energy surcharge

The energy surcharge is variable. Swiss Post applies the energy cost index to calculate the surcharge each month. This index is based on the average prices of diesel, petrol and electricity for the previous month according to the official National Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Swiss Post’s current energy mix for vehicle operations for parcel and letter delivery in the Logistics Services unit. This means the index calculation is transparent, traceable, and it directly reflects the development of fuel costs.

The energy cost index is updated monthly by the third working day of the month (taking data availability into consideration). The index is based on the previous month’s prices of the energy sources described above. The energy cost index determines the surcharge for all parcels to be invoiced in the respective month. Invoices are issued the following month.

The illustration below shows the method for calculating the energy surcharge.

Calculation basis

The prices for energy sources (diesel, petrol, electricity) are multiplied by the energy mix from the “Logistics Services” unit for vehicle operations. This generates the Swiss Post energy cost index. The surcharge in CHF per parcel corresponds to this index.

*  Electricity consumption information: the actual proportion of parcels delivered by electric vehicles is around 33% in 2023.