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."
This update represents a significant expansion in scope. The March 22 announcement was narrowly targeted at Middle East trade lanes. The April 19 update layers on a near-global surcharge framework, covering essentially all remaining international express lanes to and from the US. The China/Hong Kong-to-US corridor is carved out at $0.32 per lb. — roughly 39% above the general $0.23 per lb. rate — signaling that UPS views that trade lane as carrying disproportionate cost pressure. Because the fees are assessed per billable pound and are also subject to the Fuel Surcharge, total cost impact compounds with both shipment weight and prevailing fuel surcharge levels. UPS retains the right to adjust Surge Emergency Fees at any time, and no waiver or discount applies unless UPS agrees in writing with specific reference to the 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.
💡 Effective April 19, 2026, UPS introduces Surge Emergency Fees on nearly all international express lanes to and from the United States.
💡 A general rate of $0.23 per lb. applies to US-outbound shipments (excluding Middle East) and US-inbound shipments (excluding Middle East and China/Hong Kong).
💡 China/Hong Kong-to-US shipments carry a higher rate of $0.32 per lb., reflecting elevated cost pressure on that corridor.
💡 The four Middle East lanes from March 22 remain unchanged at $1.50 per lb. (Israel/UAE) and $1.34 per lb. (broader Middle East list).
💡 All Surge Emergency Fees apply to billable weight, are subject to the Fuel Surcharge, and UPS reserves the right to adjust them at any time.
