As of April 2026, MSC is applying an emergency fuel surcharge on ocean routes from Asia to Canada and the U.S., and Amazon is adding a fuel and logistics fee for FBA sellers.
Canadian importers and businesses are facing new shipping surcharges as Middle East unrest continues to affect carrier operations and fuel costs.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) requires a standard 30-day notice for tariff increases, unless a carrier obtains special permission to shorten that period.
With the notice period for some tariff changes now ending, new shipping surcharges are taking effect, and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has already announced higher rates effective May 1.
MSC announced an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) on cargo moving from Asia to Canada and the U.S. on March 11, 2026, given the ongoing geopolitical situation and the resulting surge in bunker costs.
The surcharge became effective today, April 9, 2026. MSC has already announced a further update to the EFS, effective May 1, 2026.
The following rates apply as of April 9:
Amazon has also announced a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge on fulfillment fees for third-party sellers using its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service in Canada and the U.S., effective April 17, 2026.
The surcharge will extend to Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) services starting May 2, 2026. It also covers Remote Fulfillment with FBA shipments from the U.S. into Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
The announcement follows a wave of shipping surcharges introduced by major ocean and air carriers due to recent fuel and transport disruptions.
At Cole International, we offer trade consulting and freight forwarding services to help Canadian businesses assess the impact of rising shipping surcharges and freight costs on their supply chains.
Reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss your shipping strategy and how to keep your freight moving.