Amazon will add a 3.5% surcharge as fuel costs rise

Amazon will add an additional 3.5% fuel and logistics fees to the fulfillment fees it charges third-party merchants. War in the Middle EastFuel prices, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran at the end of last February, continue to lead to higher fuel costs.

Amazon said in a note to sellers on Thursday that the fees will apply to third-party sellers via the Fulfillment by Amazon service in the United States and Canada starting April 17.

“High costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased operating costs across the industry,” Amazon wrote in its report. advertisement. “We have absorbed these increased costs to date. However, as with other major carriers, when costs remain high, we apply a temporary surcharge to our fulfillment fees to recover a portion of the actual cost increases we experience.”

Amazon said the new surcharge is “significantly lower” than what other major carriers charge. Amazon said the additional cost will average about 17 cents per unit in the United States, but the cost will vary based on the size of the item.

Amazon’s announcement comes amid rising gas prices in most parts of the world as the war escalates. The national average price of a gallon of gas exceeded $4 per gallon at the end of March for the first time since August 2022, an increase of more than $1 per gallon in a single month.

Amazon’s new fees follow A similar surcharge was proposed Last month by the US Postal Service. the US Postal Service said It will implement a temporary 8% surcharge starting in April to “better align transportation costs with the market.” The proposed increase, which requires approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, would affect Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select.

Shipping competitors, such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, have charged fuel surcharges for years. Due to the ongoing oil crisis and high gas prices, they have increased these fees in recent weeks.