Amazon hits sellers with 'fuel surcharge' as Iran war roils global energy markets
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- Amazon is introducing a 3.5% fuel surcharge for sellers using its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service, effective April 17, due to rising fuel and logistics costs driven by the war in Iran.
- The surcharge aims to partially offset elevated operating expenses, which Amazon has absorbed until now, and is reportedly lower than fees imposed by other major carriers.
- FBA enables merchants to store products in Amazon warehouses for packing and shipping, and this policy change could significantly increase costs for the many sellers relying on this service.
- This is not Amazon's first fuel surcharge; a similar fee was implemented in 2022 amid high crude oil prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the impact of geopolitical conflicts on energy markets and supply chains.
- Amazon plans to keep the surcharge in place for the foreseeable future but will reassess the policy as market conditions evolve.
