Ofcom has opened an investigation after Royal Mail missed its delivery targets for the year ending March 2026. Royal Mail delivered 75.7% of First Class mail the next working day against a 93% target, according to Parcel and Postal Technology International.
At a glance
- Investigation
- Ofcom opens a delivery performance investigation
- Period covered
- Year ending March 2026
- First Class late
- 24.3%
- Possible action
- Financial penalty if Ofcom finds a breach
On this page
Both delivery targets were missed
Royal Mail’s annual results show shortfalls for both letter services. First Class is measured against delivery the next working day. Second Class is measured against delivery within three working days.
| Service | Delivered within target time | Target |
|---|---|---|
| First Class | 75.7% | 93% |
| Second Class | 90.2% | 98.5% |
Subtracting the reported results from the targets gives a First Class shortfall of 17.3 percentage points and a Second Class shortfall of 8.3 percentage points.
Ofcom will examine whether Royal Mail prioritised parcel delivery over letters
Ofcom says its investigation will look at whether Royal Mail prioritised parcel delivery over letters. Royal Mail denies doing so, according to The Guardian.
The regulator launched the investigation after Royal Mail again missed its annual delivery targets. If Ofcom finds that the company breached its obligations, it will consider a financial penalty.
Royal Mail plans to meet targets by April 2027
Royal Mail has committed to investing £500m over five years. The company plans to meet its delivery targets by April 2027, according to Parcel and Postal Technology International.
Sending a parcel from Ireland
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Use the Britain route page or the Northern Ireland route page to compare parcel prices from Ireland. Enter your weight and destination in the quote tool to see prices with the cheapest first.
Questions
Why is Ofcom investigating Royal Mail?
Royal Mail again missed its annual delivery targets. Ofcom will also examine whether the company prioritised parcels over letters, which Royal Mail denies.
How much Royal Mail First Class post arrived late?
Royal Mail said 24.3% of First Class mail arrived late in the year ending March 2026.
Can Ofcom impose a financial penalty?
Ofcom says it will consider a financial penalty if it finds a breach of Royal Mail’s obligations.
When does Royal Mail plan to meet its delivery targets?
Royal Mail plans to meet its targets by April 2027. It has committed to investing £500m over five years.
Sources
- The Guardian: Royal Mail investigated again as almost a quarter of first-class post arrives late, read 1 June 2026
- Parcel and Postal Technology International: Ofcom opens investigation into Royal Mail's delivery performance failures, read 1 June 2026
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