Dutch TNT embarks on postal expansion drive in post-monopoly era

AMSTERDAM - Dutch postal services and parcel delivery company TNT aggressively is expanding its foothold in other EU countries - notably in the U.K. and Germany - as its monopoly in the Netherlands is due to expire next year. At the same time, such monopolies in the U.K. and Germany also are coming to an end, giving each postal entity opportunities to enter the other’s territory. U.S. companies such as FedEx and UPS also will be able to enter EU markets, already hit with a reduction in regular - and profitable - mail volumes, in large part due to the increased use of e-mail.