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Business trends

Japan Post gains ground as parcel delivery stalwarts struggle

Swamped by e-commerce, Yamato loses clients from price hikes and volume caps

Smaller businesses have flocked to Japan Post, which has refrained from raising corporate rates as much as rivals. (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara)

TOKYO -- Japan Post is closing the gap with the country's leading parcel shippers thanks to a surge of cost-conscious customers, as the e-commerce explosion pushes its understaffed rivals to raise rates and limit package volumes.

In absolute terms, the Japan Post Holdings unit is a distant third among Japan's shippers, commanding less than 20% of the home-delivery market. Yamato Transport leads the industry with close to a 50% share, and Sagawa Express -- part of SG Holdings -- comes in second with roughly 30%.

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