DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT are keeping their fuel surcharges for air express shipments generallystable in September against a background of falling oil prices, CEP-Research analysis shows. In
recent months, fuel surcharges had risen rapidly to the constantly increasing fuel prices.However, fuel costs are now sinking again due to the weakening demand for oil products overthe past four weeks, the news agency Reuters reported. The decreasing demand for oil products isreported to be due to rising concerns about the continuously worsening economy.
The four leading express carriers calculate their fuel surcharges based on indexes showingthe previous month’s oil price level and announce them in advance for the following month. Thesurcharges thus reflect the oil prices of two months ago and do not fully reflect the current sharpdownward trend in oil prices.
DHL Express surcharges for its US air express and international shipments remain the same inSeptember as in August at 36.5% for the 1 September – 4 October period. In Europe, DHL has slightlyincreased its air express surcharge to 20.5% in September from 20% in August. In Asia Pacific, DHL’s fuel surcharge stays the same with 27%.
The FedEx Express fuel surcharge for US domestic, import and export shipments is the same asin August at 34.5% for the 1 September-5 October period. In Europe, Middle East, India and Africa(EMEA), the FedEx fuel surcharge also remains the same with 20%.
In Asia, where FedEx’s surcharges vary by country, the September export fuel surchargeremains at 25.5% and the import fuel surcharge at 27.5% in Singapore. In Hong Kong, the FedEx fuelsurcharge for exports and imports remains at the same level with 25.5% in September as it was inAugust.
Following the current trend, UPS fuel surcharges for its US domestic and international airexpress shipments remained unchanged at 34.5% effective 1 September. In Europe, UPS slightlyincreased its fuel surcharge for express and expedited shipments by 0.5% to 21.5% from 1 Septemberonwards from the previous level of 21% in August. In Asia, however, the UPS package service fuelsurcharge did not change for September remaining at 27.5%.
TNT Express held its European fuel surcharge stable at 23% for 1-28 September while theseparate UK surcharge remained at 14.5%. In the rest of the world (excluding the Americas), the TNTsurcharge is the same for September as it was in August at 27%.
