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A hike in Royal Mail prices and reforms of other countries' charges mean the cost of sending international mail will increase by around 40% - half of which Guernsey Post will absorb, the other half it will pass on to customers.
Chief Executive Boley Smillie said the price of most Bailiwick rates will be frozen when the new tariffs are released in full later this month. However, the costs associated with international mail continue to rise.
“We have been able to freeze some of our prices including most Bailiwick rates, all of the medium parcel rates to the UK and some European parcels rates," said Mr Smillie, ahead of publication of the full tariffs on 22 March.
"However, Royal Mail are implementing significant prices increases for mail to the UK and because of reforms to the charging mechanisms applied by other countries the cost of sending international mail has increased by 40% over the last twelve months.
"We will be absorbing 50% of the increase in international charges but reluctantly we must pass the rest on to our customers."
The changes will come into effect on Wednesday 7 April. What we know so far is that:
The cost of a Bailiwick letter is frozen at 50p;
The price of a UK letter will rise by 5p from 68p to 73p;
The price of a letter to Europe will rise by 15p to £1;
The price of a letter to the Rest of the World will rise by 25p to £1.20.
Royal Mail's own costs are increasing, with letters from one UK address to another costing 85p and letters to Europe £1.70.
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