Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers

Source Credit : Portfolio Prints

Amazon will introduce a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on fees charged to third-party sellers using its fulfillment services, citing rising oil prices as the war in Iran enters its fifth week.

The surcharge takes effect April 17 for sellers in the U.S. and Canada, according to a notice sent to sellers Thursday and reviewed by CNBC.

In the message, Amazon said higher fuel and logistics expenses have increased operating costs across the industry. “We have absorbed these increased costs so far,” the company wrote. “However, similar to other major carriers, when costs remain elevated, we implement temporary surcharges to recover a portion of these increases.”

Company spokesperson Ashley Vanicek said the new fee is “meaningfully lower” than those imposed by other major carriers, adding that Amazon remains focused on supporting sellers while maintaining low prices and broad product selection for customers.

Oil prices climbed sharply Thursday amid concerns that the Middle East conflict could disrupt crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures for June rose more than 6% to $107.35 per barrel.

Amazon is not alone in responding to higher fuel costs. The U.S. Postal Service recently announced plans to add a fuel surcharge on packages starting April 26, while major carriers UPS and FedEx have already increased their own surcharges since the conflict began.

The new fee will be calculated based on fulfillment costs rather than product prices. On average, it will add about 17 cents per unit for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) shipments, though the exact amount will vary depending on item size and dimensions.

FBA is Amazon’s popular service that handles storage, packing, and shipping for sellers, and is used by the majority of third-party merchants on the platform.