Source: Logfret TradeSights 
Date: 29th September 2026 

Airfreight customers are facing increasingly frequent surcharge adjustments as elevated jet-fuel prices add to carrier operating costs and create greater uncertainty around transportation budgets.

Air cargo costs are coming under renewed pressure as higher jet-fuel prices lead airlines and logistics providers to adjust fuel-related surcharges.

The increases are not limited to a single carrier. Recent published surcharge changes across different air cargo networks point to a broader upward trend, with some charges being revised within relatively short periods as fuel benchmarks move higher.

One cargo airline, for example, increased its Japan-origin fuel surcharge for shipments to North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East from JPY 156/kg in mid-September to JPY 191/kg from October 1. Other Asian destinations are also seeing increases.

Another major Asian carrier has announced higher October fuel surcharges based on the same underlying movement in jet-fuel prices.

The reason can be seen in the fuel market itself.

Published airline calculations show the average Singapore kerosene benchmark rising from USD 146.03 per barrel in the first half of August to USD 150.97 in the second half, before reaching USD 167.16 per barrel during September 1–15.

Weekly adjustments are also becoming visible in express transportation. In Singapore, one major international parcel operator’s published fuel surcharge increased from 46.75% for the week beginning September 7 to 53.75% for the week beginning September 28, reflecting movements in its jet-fuel benchmark.

What This Means

• For shippers, the important issue is not only whether the underlying airfreight rate is increasing.
• When fuel or other airfreight surcharges are revised frequently, the final transportation cost can change even when the base freight rate remains unchanged.
• The applicable date also matters. Carrier conditions differ: surcharge levels may be determined according to cargo acceptance, air waybill issuance or booking conditions rather than simply the scheduled flight date.

Shippers should therefore pay close attention to:

• Quote validity and surcharge validity periods
• Applicable fuel and airfreight surcharges at the time of booking
• Carrier rules determining which surcharge level applies
• Potential changes when bookings are amended or cargo acceptance dates move

The recent increases reinforce the importance of looking beyond headline airfreight rates when budgeting transportation costs.

With fuel benchmarks moving quickly, surcharges can change faster than traditional freight-rate negotiations. A quotation that appears competitive today may therefore produce a different final transportation cost if fuel-related charges change before shipment acceptance or if booking details are subsequently revised.

For time-sensitive cargo, airfreight will continue to provide critical speed and flexibility. But in a volatile fuel environment, rate validity, surcharge conditions and shipment timing need to be considered together.

For importers and exporters planning upcoming air shipments, closer monitoring of the total airfreight cost, not just the base rate, will be increasingly important as fuel-related charges continue to adjust.