By Hash Techs 
The Post Office ended 2024 with a shortfall of R$ 3.2 billion, mainly due to the tax on international purchases known as the “weave rate” implemented by the Lula government, according to the president of the state, Fabiano Silva dos Santos. This taxation led to a significant decrease in imports, causing a 40% drop in revenue for the company last year.
Summary of necessary information to understand.
- The state experienced a deficit of R$ 3.2 billion in 2024.
- The state president attributes the rate to international purchases and debts from previous administrations.
- Government pledges to implement actions to ensure the post office becomes financially viable by 2025.
The influence of the rate on purchases made internationally
The “butt rate” introduced in 2023 aimed to oversee the entry of goods from online platforms like Shopee, AliExpress, and Shein. This adjustment required customers to pay a customs duty for purchases under $50, prompting many to forgo buying from international sources. With Post Offices being the primary handlers of these shipments, the decline in package volumes resulted in significant financial losses for the company.
Fabiano Silva emphasized that this rule had a considerable effect on the state, alongside mentioning another factor: the precatories (debts from previous administrations) that affected the Post Office’s financial standing.
Posters aim to change the outcome of the game.
The government asserts that there is a plan in place to revive the Post Office, including cost-cutting measures and revenue-enhancing strategies like reducing relicitation expenses and reviewing contracts. Competitions have been organized to improve management, with one more likely to take place soon.
The state is investing in logistics to enhance competitiveness in the market with the aim of achieving profitability for the company by 2025.
Do you actually possess a pipe?
Esther Dweck, the Minister of Management and Innovation, refuted claims of a financial crisis at the Post Office, stating that the deficit does not impact public funds directly since the state operates using its own resources and does not rely on funds from the National Treasury.
The minister emphasized that the Treasury will remain untouched and President Lula is mainly concerned about company profits or losses, which do not affect public debt.
The Post Office has officially stated that the Remessa Concord program has led to a direct decline in the state’s revenue, creating uncertainty about the company’s future and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
Will the postal service be able to bounce back, or will the deficit continue to grow in the upcoming years?
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