Amazon adds seller surcharge as oil spike from Iran tensions drives logistics costs higher

Amazon will impose new fees later this month on third-party sellers as rising oil prices tied to the ongoing war with Iran ripple through the U.S. economy, a shift that could ultimately push costs onto consumers.

The company said it will begin charging a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on sellers who use its fulfillment services starting April 17 in the U.S. and Canada, citing higher transportation and shipping expenses.

The move follows a sharp rise in oil prices, which are increasing costs across global supply chains. West Texas Intermediate crude topped $111 on Friday, while global benchmark Brent crude was around $109 per barrel, as investors assessed how long the conflict could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global oil chokepoint.

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Amazon told FOX Business that the surcharge is designed to offset “elevated costs in fuel and logistics.” The company noted it had absorbed those increases until now but is aligning with a broader industry shift toward passing through higher expenses.

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The change adds pressure on roughly 2 million third-party sellers that make up a significant portion of Amazon’s marketplace. Many rely on Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) – the company’s logistics network that handles storage, packing and shipping – meaning the new fee directly affects their operating costs.

On average, the surcharge will total about 17 cents per unit, though actual costs vary based on product size and weight, according to reports. While relatively modest per item, the added expense can scale quickly for high-volume sellers, who may pass those increases on to consumers.

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Amazon said the surcharge remains “meaningfully lower” than comparable fees charged by major carriers, but the move highlights how rising energy costs are cascading through the broader economy.

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Shipping providers including UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service have also implemented or announced fuel surcharges in recent weeks, signaling mounting strain across logistics networks as fuel prices climb.

Amazon shares are up 17.5% over the past year and are down 9.1% year to date.

Reuters contributed to this report.