Effective April 24, 2026, FedEx restructures its U.S. export Demand Surcharges, introducing a new higher-rate tier for shipments to the Middle East and South Asia. Destinations previously grouped under a broad $0.50/lb surcharge are broken out into a separate tier at $0.75/lb, representing a 50% rate increase for affected regions. The surcharge to Israel is reduced from $1.50/lb to $0.50/lb, and surcharges for Zone M, Egypt, India, South Africa, Syria, and Yemen remain unchanged at $0.50/lb.
This update breaks apart what was previously a broad $0.50/lb surcharge group, creating a new higher tier for Middle Eastern and South Asian destinations. Zone O (excluding India) along with Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are pulled into a distinct tier at $0.75/lb — a $0.25/lb increase. India is carved out from Zone O and held at $0.50/lb alongside Zone M, Egypt, South Africa, Syria, and Yemen. The Israel surcharge drops from $1.50/lb to $0.50/lb, a $1.00/lb reduction. Iraq is reclassified out of the Zone M grouping and into the new $0.75/lb tier with other Middle Eastern destinations.
Shippers sending parcels or freight to the Middle East and South Asia (excluding India) should expect higher demand surcharges beginning April 24, 2026. The increase from $0.50 to $0.75 per pound compounds on heavier shipments — a 100 lb. shipment to Saudi Arabia, for example, will now incur a $75 surcharge versus $50 previously. Shippers to Israel will see a significant reduction, with the surcharge dropping from $1.50 to $0.50/lb. Shippers to India, Zone M, Egypt, South Africa, Syria, and Yemen will see no change. Minimum charges remain at $1 per parcel and $50 per freight shipment.
💡 Effective April 24, 2026, FedEx introduces a new $0.75/lb demand surcharge tier for U.S. exports to the Middle East and South Asia (excluding India).
💡 This represents a 50% increase ($0.50 → $0.75/lb) for shipments to countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and others.
💡 The Israel demand surcharge drops significantly from $1.50/lb to $0.50/lb — a 67% reduction.
💡 India is carved out from Zone O and remains at $0.50/lb alongside Zone M, Egypt, South Africa, Syria, and Yemen.
💡 Iraq is reclassified into the new $0.75/lb tier, having been excluded from the Zone M surcharge grouping.
