UPS Surge Emergency Fee

Effective April 19, 2026, UPS introduces a new "Surge Emergency Fee" on nearly all international express shipments to and from the United States. A general rate of $0.23 per lb. applies to US-outbound shipments to all destinations except previously communicated Middle East countries, and to US-inbound shipments from all origins except the Middle East and China/Hong Kong. A higher rate of $0.32 per lb. applies specifically to China/Hong Kong-to-US shipments. These fees apply to billable weight across UPS's international express service portfolio and are subject to the Fuel Surcharge. The four Middle East surge lanes announced on March 22, 2026 — at $1.50 per lb. for Israel/UAE and $1.34 per lb. for the broader Middle East country list — remain in effect at their existing rates. The program has also been rebranded from "Surge Fee" to "Surge Emergency Fee."

Shippers should expect meaningful new costs on international express shipments beginning April 19, 2026. The impact will be broadest for shippers with diversified international shipping profiles, as the $0.23 per lb. baseline now touches most non-Middle East lanes in both directions. It will be most acute for shippers moving significant volume from China/Hong Kong to the US, where the premium rate applies. Shippers already subject to the Middle East surcharges will see no change to those lanes but should evaluate the cumulative cost environment across their full international network. Before April 19, shippers should model the per-pound fee impact against their international express volume and weight profiles to understand total exposure.