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FedEx adds war surcharge as Ukraine crisis ratchets up shipping costs

Increase applies to international shipments but varies by destination

An Airbus A300 cargo jet. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

FedEx Express notified customers on Thursday that it will hike its peak surcharge for many international  parcel and freight shipments, beginning next week, because of the latest supply chain disruptions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The express delivery company is increasing the surcharge by 20 to 30 cents per kilogram for most of Asia-Pacific, effective Monday, with price increases starting March 21 in other areas. European exports and imports are rising a tenth of a euro, or 11 cents, per kilogram. Increases also apply in the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Latin America, according to the tariff schedule.

“Due to continued disruptions in the global supply chain, air cargo capacity remains limited. We are incurring incremental costs as we continue to adjust our international networks and operate in this constrained environment,” FedEx (NYSE: FDX) said a customer update.

The extra fee will also apply to shipments moving through FedEx’s intra-European network formerly known as TNT Express.


Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx didn’t use the terms war surcharge or Ukraine, but news of the fee came nearly a week after the outbreak of hostilities roiled ocean, air and ground freight transportation in Europe and Russia.

“The increase is “perhaps warranted given global supply chain pressures on the transportation and logistics industry’s operating costs, but we’re sure stretching the meaning of the term ‘peak’ these days,” said John Costanzo, founder of LDK Global Logistics and the former president of Purolator International, on LinkedIn.

Since the COVID pandemic, what were peak season surcharges have been applied year-round with so many logistics systems still under pressure because of inadequate infrastructure, equipment and labor resources to meet growing trade flows.

FedEx has suspended all service to Ukraine, Russia and Belarus out of concern for the safety of its employees and because of sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.


Lufthansa Cargo’s top executive on Friday said the air cargo market will suffer a 10% loss in capacity because freighters now have to fly around Russia to reach Asia from Europe after Russia, in a retaliatory move, banned European airlines from its airspace.

Logistics industry professionals say some all-cargo airlines are contemplating, or begun, to apply a war surcharge to their shipping invoices, but many say most carriers will cover their costs through increased rates, which are already rising because of the limited availability of aircraft.

RELATED NEWS:

Lufthansa Cargo sees 10% capacity cut due to Russia flight detours

Russia sanctions cut both ways for air cargo

Biden bans Russian aircraft from US airspace

Ukraine crisis creates logistics headaches for air cargo, airlines


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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He won Environmental Journalist of the Year from the Seahorse Freight Association in 2014 and was the group's 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. In December 2022, he was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist by the Seahorse Freight Association. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at [email protected]