Amazon is implementing a 3.5% "fuel and logistics-related surcharge" on fees collected from third-party sellers who use its Fulfillment by Amazon services in the U.S. and Canada, with the charge set to take effect on April 17. The move transfers rising operating costs onto sellers who depend on Amazon’s platform to reach customers, while the company says it is recovering a portion of the cost increases it says it has been absorbing.
Who Pays
Amazon said in a notice to sellers that "Elevated costs in fulfillment and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry," and that it has "absorbed these increased costs so far." The company said it is now implementing "temporary surcharges on our fulfillment fees to recover a portion of the actual cost increases we are experiencing," and said the move is similar to other major carriers.
The surcharge is calculated based on sellers' fulfillment fees, not the sale price of items. Amazon said the average increase is 17 cents per unit for FBA shipments, with the amount varying by item size and dimensions. Amazon's marketplace hosts approximately 2 million sellers, and the majority use FBA for fulfillment.
The State of Transport Costs
The decision comes as the Iran war continues into its fifth week, contributing to rising oil prices. On Thursday, June futures for international benchmark Brent crude increased by more than 6% to $107.35 per barrel, as investors assessed the potential for the conflict to disrupt crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Postal Service announced in March 2026 its plan to impose a fuel surcharge on packages starting April 26. Major shipping carriers UPS and FedEx have also implemented higher fuel surcharges since the beginning of the Iran war.
Amazon spokesperson Ashley Vanicek said the surcharge is "meaningfully lower" than levies applied by other major carriers. Vanicek also said, "We remain committed to our selling partners' success and to maintaining broad selection and low prices for customers."
Amazon's Cost Recovery
The company framed the surcharge as a response to higher fuel and logistics costs across the industry. The new fee applies to sellers using Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon services in the U.S. and Canada, placing the burden of those costs on the merchants who rely on Amazon’s logistics network.
The report said the surcharge is intended to offset rising energy prices and increased operating costs associated with fulfillment and logistics. Amazon’s notice said the company is recovering only a portion of the actual cost increases it says it is experiencing.
An image accompanying the report showed an Amazon employee fulfilling same-day orders during Cyber Monday on December 2, 2024.