AMSTERDAM, Feb. 10 (Reuters) – Dutch mail and logistics group TNT saw volumes and margins in its Express division rise year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2009, as cost savings managed to shield the unit from price pressure.

TNT said on Monday that for the first time in 2009, the operating margin in express had risen compared with the year-earlier period, adding that the first two weeks of 2010 saw a continuation of this uptrend in volume.

In an unscheduled trading update TNT said in its Mail division the drop in fourth-quarter addressed volumes in the Netherlands was in line with expectations, as was operating income, helped by savings and strong Christmas volumes.

Last week TNT reached a deal with trade unions to allow for the restructuring of its mail unit that will lead to thousands of job cuts in exchange for a pay rise.