Amazon to Add 3.5% Fulfillment Surcharge as Fuel Costs Rise
CNET • • business
Key Points:
- Amazon will introduce a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on fulfillment fees for third-party sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon in the US and Canada starting April 17, citing rising costs due to the Middle East conflict.
- The surcharge, averaging about 17 cents per unit in the US, is intended to partially offset elevated fulfillment and logistics expenses, though Amazon notes it is significantly lower than fees charged by other major carriers.
- This move aligns with broader industry trends as global fuel prices surge, with the US national average gas price surpassing $4 per gallon at the end of March, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions.
- The US Postal Service has also proposed an 8% temporary surcharge starting in April to better match transportation costs, pending regulatory approval, while FedEx and UPS have long maintained and recently increased their fuel surcharges amid the ongoing oil crisis.
