Fuel surcharges for international air express shipments have increased in September as oilprices went up again after the first fall in July this year, CEP-Research analysis shows.
For September, the surcharges of the four leading express operators have all increased in theUS, Europe and Asia in most cases.
In the US, FedEx Express and DHL Express surcharges for domestic and international air expressshipments went up to 15.5% in September from 15% in August while UPS increased its surcharge from14.5% last month to 15%.
In Europe, FedEx increased its surcharge to 18% in September from 17.5% in August, followed byUPS with 17.5%, up from 17% in August. The DHL surcharge remained the same at 17% in August andSeptember. The TNT Express European surcharge rose to 21% from 20.5% in August while its separateUK surcharge went up from 14% to 14.5% in September.
Similarly, all the integrators increased their fuel surcharges in Asia for September except forTNT. The DHL surcharge went up from 23.5% in August to 24% for the period of 1-30 September. TheUPS surcharge in Asia rose to 23% in September from 22% in August. Only the TNT RoW (rest of theworld) surcharge remained the same at 20% for August and September. FedEx, whose surcharges vary bycountry in Asia, went up to 18% in September from 17% in August both in Singapore and HongKong.
The air express fuel surcharges for September reflect the oil price level two months ago. Thefour leading express carriers calculate their surcharges based on indices showing the previousmonth’s oil price level and announce them in advance for the following month. This results in atwo-month time lag between prices and the surcharge level.
After the recent falls in oil prices on concerns over the debt crisis in Europe and the state ofthe global economic recovery, the oil prices are going up again. However, the prices are still farbelow the levels of the first months of 2011 when oil traded above the $100 mark on the New YorkMercantile Exchange compared to $85.85 this morning. Brent futures in London were considerablylower than this year’s peak levels at $110.45 today.
The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose in the past two weeks,reflecting a rise in crude oil prices, the news agency Reuters reported. According to analysts, oilprices will continue to rise until the end of the year as the demand growth is weakening while thesupply management is adequate.
