Comprehensive Snapshot for North America Postal Services Market, Including Country and Segment Analysis in Brief.
Industry: Consumer Goods
Published Date: April-2025
Format: PPT*, PDF, EXCEL
Delivery Timelines: Contact Sales
Number of Pages: 160
Report ID: PMRREP35254
The North America postal services market size is projected to rise from US$ 88.7 bn in 2025 to US$ 96.7 bn and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 1.3% by 2032. The booming e-commerce sector in North America has boosted demand for last-mile logistics and parcel delivery, says Persistence Market Research. The volume of traditional mail has significantly diminished due to the rise of digital communication. These interconnected trends are expected to transform the market, compelling postal service providers to extend their services as well as enhance their operations with new technologies.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is considered the official postal entity in the country. UPS and FedEx provide countywide delivery services for urgent packages and letters in direct competition with USPS’s Express Mail. USPS limits other local couriers from delivering non-urgent letters and restricts them from shipping to U.S. mailboxes at business and residential locations by leveraging its monopoly.
Key Industry Highlights
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Market Attribute |
Key Insights |
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North America Postal Services Market Size (2025E) |
US$ 88.7 Bn |
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Market Value Forecast (2032F) |
US$ 96.7 Bn |
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Projected Growth (CAGR 2025 to 2032) |
1.3% |
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Historical Market Growth (CAGR 2019 to 2024) |
0.9% |
The surge of direct-to-consumer (DTC) retail and e-commerce models is poised to positively influence North America postal services market growth through 2032. In 2023 alone, e-commerce sales in the U.S. reached more than US$ 1.1 Tn, as per the U.S. Census Bureau. It marked a 7.6% rise compared to the previous year.
The rapid growth is predicted to directly impact parcel volumes handled by reputed government-backed as well as private postal services. It is further expected to push demand for residential deliveries, specifically in rural and suburban areas where conventional courier networks are often less developed. In addition, mail-based and catalog marketing by several brands to bypass privacy restrictions and digital advertising saturation will likely bolster the market. Retailers such as Nordstrom and Wayfair, have already relaunched physical catalogues, finding these highly effective at attracting consumer attention.
Postal services in North America are projected to showcase a decline in a few areas in the foreseeable future, mainly in transactional documents and conventional letter mail. USPS stated that the volume of first-class mail dropped to just 46 Bn pieces in 2023 from 54.9 Bn in 2011, showcasing around 16% decline over the past decade. It is especially pushed by increasing digitization across both the private and public sectors.
Utility companies, government agencies, and banks are hence rapidly inclining toward digital communication and paperless billing. It is significantly lowering the requirement for mailed notices or statements. Financial strain on local postal operators is another key factor speculated to hamper demand. A combination of rigid legislative constraints associated with pension funding, high labor costs, and aging infrastructure contributes to the unsustainable economics of maintaining universal mail service.
Sustainability initiatives in the field of postal services are envisioned to create new growth avenues across North America. As regulatory frameworks become stringent and climate change pressures rise, there is an increasing desire among postal operators to shift toward green operations. This shift is expected to not only appeal to environmentally conscious consumers who actively demand low-impact delivery solutions but also help achieve emission goals.
Canada Post, for instance, has been investing huge sums in carbon reduction with upgradations in infrastructure. It launched its first-ever 585,000-square-foot zero-carbon parcel sorting facility in 2023 in Toronto. The facility is powered by renewable electricity and has energy-efficient HVAC systems as well as rooftop solar panels. It is a part of the operator’s net-zero emissions goal, which it aims to achieve by 2050. It has also set a 50% carbon reduction target for 2030. Such initiatives are anticipated to enhance a company’s appeal among eco-conscious consumers.
Based on type, the market is segregated into express and standard. Out of these, express postal services are expected to generate around 55.8% share in 2025 in the North America postal services market. These services are gaining traction due to changing consumer and business preferences for real-time tracking, high reliability, and quick delivery.
Once introduced as a premium service, express delivery is now considered a baseline offering. The Amazon effect is a leading driver of this segment as Amazon’s one-day and two-day delivery services have drastically changed consumer expectations. As of 2024, there are around 170 Mn Prime members in the U.S. alone, who regularly opt for expedited shipping. This has compelled competitors to improve their express services.
Standard postal services are also showcasing steady growth in North America, owing to the surging penetration of recurring and subscription-based shipment models. Categories such as wellness products, pet supplies, and meal kits frequently utilize standard postal services backed by cost-effectiveness and predictable delivery schedules.
In terms of item, the market is bifurcated into letters and parcels. Increasing use of online banking, digital invoicing, and email has surpassed the need for postal mails in North America. E-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, and eBay have teamed up with postal service operators to offer discounted rates, real-time tracking, and smooth parcel labeling. Postal services are also focusing on enhancing their infrastructure to keep up with this parcel-heavy shift.
Canada Post, for example, invested around CAD 470 Mn in its latest Gateway processing hub located in Ontario. It was specifically designed to handle high-volume parcels with automated sorting processes, lowering average parcel processing time by 25%. Similarly, USPS mentioned that as of 2024, more than 60 sorting and delivery centers have been developed across the U.S. to allow for next-day or same-day delivery within 200-mile zones. Due to the aforementioned factors, the parcel segment is expected to hold about 56.1% of the North America postal services market share in 2025.
Governmental communications and legal documents are increasingly digitized. In 2023, the Canada Revenue Agency, shifted more than 80% of its communications online to reduce dependence on conventional letter mail.
Based on type, the market is segregated into express and standard. Out of these, express postal services are expected to generate around 55.8% share in 2025 in the North America postal services market. These services are gaining traction due to changing consumer and business preferences for real-time tracking, high reliability, and quick delivery.
Once introduced as a premium service, express delivery is now considered a baseline offering. The Amazon effect is a leading driver of this segment as Amazon’s one-day and two-day delivery services have drastically changed consumer expectations. As of 2024, there are around 170 Mn Prime members in the U.S. alone, who regularly opt for expedited shipping. This has compelled competitors to improve their express services.
Standard postal services are also showcasing steady growth in North America, owing to the surging penetration of recurring and subscription-based shipment models. Categories such as wellness products, pet supplies, and meal kits frequently utilize standard postal services backed by cost-effectiveness and predictable delivery schedules.
In terms of item, the market is bifurcated into letters and parcels. Increasing use of online banking, digital invoicing, and email has surpassed the need for postal mails in North America. E-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, and eBay have teamed up with postal service operators to offer discounted rates, real-time tracking, and smooth parcel labeling. Postal services are also focusing on enhancing their infrastructure to keep up with this parcel-heavy shift.
Canada Post, for example, invested around CAD 470 Mn in its latest Gateway processing hub located in Ontario. It was specifically designed to handle high-volume parcels with automated sorting processes, lowering average parcel processing time by 25%. Similarly, USPS mentioned that as of 2024, more than 60 sorting and delivery centers have been developed across the U.S. to allow for next-day or same-day delivery within 200-mile zones. Due to the aforementioned factors, the parcel segment is expected to hold about 56.1% of the North America postal services market share in 2025.
Governmental communications and legal documents are increasingly digitized. In 2023, the Canada Revenue Agency, shifted more than 80% of its communications online to reduce dependence on conventional letter mail.
The postal services in the U.S. is characterized by a paradox of declining traditional mail and increasing parcel demand. It is putting USPS in a complex financial and operational position. Even though the growth of e-commerce is constantly propelling parcel volumes, the revenue generated has not been sufficient to offset losses from the high costs related to universal service obligations and plummeting letter mail. USPS, for example, recorded a financial loss of nearly US$ 6.5 Bn as of fiscal year 2023, with mail volume declining to 116.1 Bn pieces.
One of the most prominent challenges that USPS is currently facing is an outdated vehicle fleet and infrastructure. These inefficiencies have made it extremely difficult for the operator to compete with several private carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and Amazon. Amazon alone delivers more than 5.9 Bn packages every year, exceeding FedEx, and the company is now on track to surpass UPS. By comparison, USPS handled around 7.2 bn packages in 2023, but with high delivery charges per parcel owing to universal service norms that require delivery to every U.S. address, no matter how uneconomical or remote.
In 2025, Canada is poised to account for a share of nearly 26.2%. Canada Post is currently striving to address the challenges of declining conventional mail volumes and financial losses. The operator recorded a pre-tax loss of US$ 748 Mn in 2023, which highlights the urgency for strategic and operational reforms. The gradual decline in transaction mail is one of the key factors responsible for these losses. Hence, the operator focuses on exploring new revenue streams, including using its extensive network for identity verification services.
Several private operators in Canada are capitalizing on the surge of e-commerce to provide flexible and fast alternatives to conventional postal services. For instance, Purolator has exhibited considerable growth, generating around US$ 2.7 bn in terms of revenue in 2023. This was attributed to its rising focus on last-mile delivery innovations and business-to-business (B2B) logistics. UPS Canada and FedEx Canada are also extending their footprint in urban areas. They are providing same-day or next-day deliveries to attract new customers.
The North America postal services market has a fragmented landscape. Large-scale companies have advantages in diversity of services and widespread infrastructure. Government-owned postal agencies usually have a monopoly on mail delivery. However, they are facing high competition from private package delivery firms. Small-scale companies focus on collaborating with renowned players to capitalize on each other’s strengths.
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Report Attribute |
Details |
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Historical Data/Actuals |
2019 - 2024 |
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Forecast Period |
2025 - 2032 |
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Market Analysis Units |
Value: US$ Bn/Mn, Volume: As Applicable |
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Geographical Coverage |
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Segmental Coverage |
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Competitive Analysis |
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Report Highlights |
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Customization and Pricing |
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The North America postal services market is projected to be valued at US$ 88.7 Bn in 2025.
Boom of e-commerce and the reintroduction of catalog marketing tactics are the key market drivers.
The North America postal services market is poised to witness a CAGR of 1.3% from 2025 to 2032.
Increasing shift of leading companies toward green operations and last-mile delivery innovations are the key market opportunities.
USPS, Canada Post Corporation, UPS, and DHL are a few key players in North America postal services market.
