Amazon Hits Sellers With New Fuel Surcharge

Amazon said it will add a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers that use its services in the United States and Canada, a change the company tied to higher energy-related operating costs across the delivery sector.

The Seattle-based company announced the measure on April 2, 2026, and said it will take effect on April 17, 2026, for sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon. Amazon linked the cost pressure to increased fuel prices that it attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran, describing the impact as broad-based across logistics operations.

Amazon said the surcharge is temporary and is intended to help offset expenses after the company had previously absorbed rising costs. It said that sustained elevated costs made it necessary to introduce the fee to partially recover operational expenditures tied to moving and delivering goods.

The company also set a second start date for other services. Amazon said the same temporary surcharge will apply beginning May 2, 2026, to sellers using Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment, extending the fee beyond orders shipped directly through the core marketplace fulfillment program.

Amazon positioned the move as consistent with broader industry pricing actions. It said its surcharge is lower than those imposed by other major carriers, and it pointed to similar steps taken by logistics providers including United Parcel Service, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service.

As an example of the wider trend, the United States Postal Service announced an 8% fuel surcharge for packages that will run from April 26, 2026, through January 17, 2027. That timeline and rate were presented as part of an industry response to persistently high energy costs linked to geopolitical events.

For sellers, the change adds a new variable to fulfillment costs for orders handled through Amazon’s network and related programs. Amazon did not specify in its announcement how long its surcharge will remain in place, underscoring uncertainty for merchants planning pricing, promotions, and inventory decisions during a period of elevated logistics expenses.