AMZN Shares Fall as Amazon Introduces 3.5% Fuel Surcharge for Marketplace Sellers

TLDR

• Amazon will impose a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on third-party sellers in the U.S. and Canada, starting April 17.
• This decision is linked to surging oil prices driven by the ongoing Iran war, now in its fifth week.
• The surcharge is based on fulfillment fees rather than item sale prices, with an average of roughly 17 cents per unit.
• UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service have all introduced comparable surcharges over the past few weeks.
• Amazon’s stock declined by 0.89%, UPS’s stock fell 0.6%, and FedEx’s stock remained nearly unchanged.

(SeaPRwire) –   On Thursday, Amazon revealed it will apply a temporary 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to fees for third-party sellers utilizing its fulfillment services. This surcharge will take effect on April 17 for sellers in the U.S. and Canada.

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)

This step comes amid the Iran war—now in its fifth week—which continues to drive up energy prices. Brent crude June futures rose over 6% on Thursday to $107.35 per barrel, as investors monitored possible disruptions to oil shipments via the Strait of Hormuz.

Amazon $AMZN is adding a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to FBA fulfillment fees in the U.S. and Canada starting April 17, after saying elevated fuel and logistics costs have raised operating expenses. pic.twitter.com/QhJd084JJC

— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) April 2, 2026

Amazon stated that it had been absorbing the increased costs before choosing to pass a portion onto sellers. “When costs stay high, we put in place temporary surcharges on our fulfillment fees to recoup some of the actual cost hikes we’re facing,” the company noted in its seller announcement.

The surcharge will be calculated based on fulfillment fees, not item sale prices. For Fulfillment by Amazon shipments, it averages about 17 cents per unit, though the precise amount differs depending on an item’s size and dimensions.

Amazon spokesperson Ashley Vanicek said the surcharge is “meaningfully lower” than levies being applied by other major carriers. The company said it “remains committed to our selling partners’ success.”

Wider Industry Picture

Amazon isn’t the only one taking this action. Both UPS and FedEx have rolled out higher fuel surcharges since the Iran war started. The U.S. Postal Service is also planning an 8% temporary price hike on shipping services beginning April 26.

Amazon’s marketplace has approximately two million sellers, most of whom use Fulfillment by Amazon as their shipping option. This means the surcharge will affect a wide range of sellers on the platform.

Beginning May 2, the surcharge will extend to include “Buy with Prime” in the U.S. and multi-channel fulfillment services in both the U.S. and Canada. Remote fulfillment from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, and Brazil will also be subject to the surcharge starting April 17.

Market Reaction

AMZN stock decreased by 0.89% that day. UPS’s stock dropped 0.6% to $97.35, while FedEx’s stock remained relatively stable at $359.30, rising 0.41%.

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average also closed lower, dropping 0.2% and 0.4% respectively.

Oil prices continued to weigh on logistics stocks overall, with no obvious end to the Middle East conflict visible as of Thursday.