The parcel forwarding companies JetBox, Box Correos and Aeropost reported increases of between 12% and 35% in the number of packages shipped in the last three years.
The boom in Internet shopping has led leading delivery companies to open new delivery points and invest in technology in order to improve the service for end-users.
Increasing competition has forced five major companies sharing the market to diversify their services beyond simple forwarding of packages.
From online shopping and home delivery to options to pay utility bills; these are part of the services for which several companies are in the industry are counting on to maintain competitiveness against their peers in the market of courier services in Costa Rica.
The number of online purchases has dropped since the Treasury placed restrictions on tax exemptions at the end of 2011.
The total number of packets handled by courier companies during the first half of 2013 was 19,313, far from the levels seen in the same period in 2011, when they totaled 26,089, but better than in 2012, when there were 13,879.
Internet shopping, which had declined after the decision of the Ministry of Finance to charge tariffs on these operations, has regained momentum and grew again by 10%.
An article in Nacion.com reports that "A little less than a year ago, confusion reigned over internet purchases.
In 2006 the state run company Correos de Costa Rica was dying, but an aggressive policy of diversification of services has made it the main competitor in the courier market today.
With an investment of $1 million the company is opening a 11,000 square meter customs warehouse in Heredia.
The new depot will be used to collect parcels acquired by internet shoppers.
"This facility will house the company's 125 people working in the operations department of the company which has 18 branches and a staff of 400 people.
In a press release, the company announced that it is the first Central American customs warehouse intended for this purpose", writes Sergio Arce for Nacion.com
Courier companies project a growth of 35% in packages shipped by the end of year compared to 2010.
Jonathan Beltran, Aerocasillas’ marketing manager, said the company recorded an average flow of 4,000 packages per month between January and October (considered low season) and for the months of November and December (considered high season) , they project an average of 8,000 per month.
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