UPS International Air and Ground Fuel Surcharge Update

UPS will increase its International fuel surcharge rates effective June 1, 2026. The International Air Export and Import Fuel Surcharge (jet fuel–based) rises by 1.00 percentage point at every published fuel price bracket compared to the May 11, 2026 table, while the International Ground Export Import Fuel Surcharge (diesel-based) rises by 1.00 percentage point at every published bracket compared to the April 13, 2026 table. Both tables also shift their published price ranges upward, signaling UPS's expectation of higher fuel costs. The underlying methodology, increment structure, and affected services remain unchanged. Because fuel surcharges apply to transportation charges and certain accessorial charges on a percentage basis, the impact compounds on higher-rated shipments. Shippers should update cost models, customer pricing, and invoice-audit controls before June 1.

This will most directly affect shippers with significant international air volume, where surcharges now range from 41.00%–44.00% on exports and 44.75%–47.75% on imports at published bracket levels. Because the surcharge is percentage-based, the dollar impact scales with shipment value — heavy, high-rated, and time-definite international shipments will see the largest absolute cost increase. International ground shippers using UPS Standard to/from Canada and Mexico will also see higher costs, though the surcharge percentages (27.25%–30.25%) are lower in absolute terms than they are for air. The upward shift in published price ranges means shippers are unlikely to benefit from lower brackets even if fuel prices dip modestly.