Austrian Post has completed the acquisition of Serbian courier company D Express, taking full ownership after receiving approval from Serbia’s competition authorities and strengthening its position in the country’s parcel-delivery market. The transaction was completed, with Austrian Post acquiring 100% of D Express. The Austrian group already owns Serbian courier operator City Express and plans to gradually integrate the two businesses before combining them into a single company.
The acquisition gives Austrian Post control of one of Serbia’s largest private parcel-delivery networks as e-commerce volumes continue to expand and logistics operators invest in delivery capacity and technology.
D Express network adds significant capacity
D Express handled approximately 14 million parcels in 2025 and generated around €36 million in revenue. The company employs about 1,300 people and operates a logistics centre in Belgrade, alongside 27 depots, 35 parcel shops, more than 300 parcel lockers and around 800 vehicles. Austrian Post said the acquisition makes it the new market leader in Serbian parcel delivery and plans additional investment in capacity and services. The combination with City Express will bring the two existing networks under the same ownership before their planned integration.
Integration brings larger delivery volumes
The transaction increases the scale of Austrian Post’s Serbian parcel operation as delivery companies face growing requirements for faster shipments, real-time tracking, automated collection points and flexible returns. Meeting those requirements involves investment in sorting facilities, information technology, vehicle fleets and parcel-locker networks.
Combining D Express and City Express can place those investments across a larger parcel volume while reducing duplication between the two operations.
A larger network can also increase delivery-route density, with more parcels transported along the same routes reducing average costs per shipment, particularly in Belgrade and other major Serbian cities.
Parcel lockers support e-commerce logistics
The expansion comes as increasing online retail activity changes requirements across Serbia’s logistics sector. Retailers increasingly require fulfilment services, automated tracking, defined delivery windows and integrated returns alongside conventional parcel transportation. D Express already operates more than 300 automated parcel stations, giving Austrian Post an established collection network that can be expanded as customers use alternatives to home delivery.
Parcel lockers can also reduce unsuccessful delivery attempts by allowing multiple shipments to be consolidated at a single collection location. The acquisition therefore adds both parcel volumes and existing physical infrastructure to Austrian Post’s Serbian operation.
Competition shifts toward network and technology
The enlarged business will increase competitive pressure on Pošta Srbije and other private courier operators. Competition is increasingly centred on network density, digital services, delivery speed and parcel-locker availability alongside pricing.
Smaller operators may face greater pressure to match the investment capabilities of larger logistics groups, potentially affecting the structure of Serbia’s courier market. Pošta Srbije retains nationwide infrastructure, including coverage outside the largest urban markets, while private operators are investing in automated delivery systems and technology in commercially significant areas. The D Express acquisition creates a larger private-sector courier operation capable of competing across conventional parcel delivery and e-commerce logistics.
Austrian Post expands Southeast European network
The transaction also extends Austrian Post’s presence in Southeast Europe. Integrating D Express into a broader regional network could provide Serbian retailers with additional cross-border parcel capabilities and give international e-commerce companies access to a larger logistics operator in Serbia. For Austrian Post, the acquisition combines D Express’ established Serbian customer base, workforce, logistics facilities, vehicles and parcel lockers with the resources of a larger European postal group.
The next stage involves integrating the two courier operations, including their IT platforms, depots, delivery routes, employees and customer contracts, while maintaining service continuity. The acquisition therefore establishes the basis for a larger Austrian Post parcel-delivery operation in Serbia built around the combined assets of D Express and City Express.
