Regulations for Oman’s postal sector being readied

mails has fallen dramatically across the world in the wake of the growth of email and other forms of electronic communications, a combination of innovation and ecommerce is contributing to a reversal of this trend in the Sultanate.

Incoming international registered mail has surged 58 per cent to 703K pieces in 2017, up from 464K a year earlier, according to the TRA. So have local parcels, which soared 117 per cent last year.

“International incoming express mail services account for the largest share of the postal services, comprising 50 per cent of the total express market. This is indicative of the dynamics of the Omani market and the gradual but continuous growth of e-commerce,” said the Authority in its Annual Report. “The growth of outgoing express mail shipments could also signify growth in e-commerce due to the increase in the volume of shipments from Oman to the rest of the world by 18 per cent,” it stated.

Traditional Mail Services (TMS), encompassing incoming and outgoing letters and parcels — local and international — jumped 39 per cent to 915K pieces last year. Express Mail Services (EMS), including ecommerce, shot up 21 per cent to 1.267K pieces. The total volume of traffic across both the traditional and express segments was also up 20 per cent to 2.183K pieces last year.

Besides Oman Post, which has the sole mandate to offer Traditional Mail Services, 15 other private courier companies have been licensed to provide Express Mail Services in the Sultanate.