The price of a basic national and international stamp is set to rise next month.

According to An Post today (Tuesday), the new stamp prices reflect sharp transport, fuel and energy cost inflation and the true cost of maintaining a nationwide postal service with steadily falling traditional letter volumes.

The changes will occur on Tuesday, March 1. The standard national letter stamp will increase to €1.25 (currently €1.10) while the standard international stamp will be €2.20 (currently €2).

These levels are well below the current average European tariffs for high quality, letter delivery services. The average price of a comparable national stamp across the principal EU14 (+ UK) countries is now €1.58, while the comparable worldwide tariff is €2.27.

10-stamp booklets

Conscious of the impact on personal customers and SMEs who are regular mailers, there will be no increase in the price of 10-stamp booklets priced €11 (a 15c discount per stamp). SMEs can also avail of the €1.10 stamp price through the An Post Advantage Card with increased discount of 12% on larger stamp packs and 34% discount on parcel postage will be available to all SMEs to year-end.

International air freight prices have increased by up to 360% in the pandemic; transport cost inflation is running at 18% and electricity, gas and fuel costs are up 27% year on year (CSO-Dec 2021).

“While these increases are essential to cover rising costs, and ensure service continuity on a par with the very best in Europe, we will mitigate the impact on SMEs by increasing discounts available to them, while freezing the price of 10-stamp booklet for consumers and offering regular price promotions,” David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said.

All existing stamps with ‘N’ (National) and ‘W’ (Worldwide) denominations remain valid and fully useable after the new prices come into effect. Also on March 1, tariffs for parcels to EU countries are being reduced in line with improved routing options. Letter, packet and parcel price zones are being revised for different parts of Europe, maintaining prices at the lowest possible rates, while reflecting the cost of transporting Irish mail to these countries, he added.