May 8 (Reuters) - Dutch postal firm PostNL (PTNL.AS) on Monday reported a surprise operating profit for the first quarter, supported by a smaller-than-expected drop in parcel volumes and adaptive measures implemented last year. Delivery and postal firms from PostNL to Germany's Deutsche Post (DPWGn.DE) and U.S.-based FedEx (FDX.N) have seen parcel volumes fall from their pandemic highs as demand normalises while high inflation erodes consumer confidence. Volumes for PostNL's parcel distribution business fell 6.5% to 81 million items, while analysts had expected a drop of 8%. PostNL confirmed its full-year guidance of normalised EBIT between 70 million and 100 million euros and free cash flow between 10 million and 40 million euros. ($1 = 0.9056 euros)(This story has been corrected to say 81 million items, not 81 million euros, in paragraph 5)Reporting by Olivier Cherfan and Augustin Turpin; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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