Amazon has announced that it will be implementing a 3.5 per cent fuel surcharge on fulfillment fees for sellers in Canada and the U.S. This surcharge will first affect those enrolled in the Fulfillment by Amazon program, which allows sellers to leverage Amazon’s fulfillment warehouses for packing and shipping services. For online Amazon storefronts in the United States and Canada, the surcharge will come into effect on April 17. Sellers utilizing the Multi-Channel Fulfillment program, designed for those with non-Amazon sales channels like personal websites, will see the surcharge applied starting on May 2.
A company spokesperson stated that rising fuel and logistics costs have heightened operational expenses across the industry. While Amazon has previously absorbed these cost increases, ongoing elevated expenses have necessitated the implementation of temporary surcharges to help offset these additional costs. The spokesperson emphasized Amazon’s commitment to supporting its selling partners’ success while ensuring a wide selection and competitive prices for customers.
In response to the global energy crisis triggered by events such as the U.S. and Israel’s actions against Iran, several major companies offering consumer services have introduced fuel surcharges to their pricing structures. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas supply, has contributed to the escalating fuel cost situation.