UPS is raising its Surge Emergency Fee on Express imports from Asia to the U.S., effective November 16, 2026, in the middle of peak season. The fee on shipments from China, Hong Kong, and Macau climbs to $1.03 per pound, and India now has a separate, higher rate:

• China, Hong Kong, and Macau to the U.S.: $1.03 per pound, up from $0.91
• India to the U.S.: $0.89 per pound, up from $0.77

India previously paid the same $0.77 rate as the rest of Asia. Australia, New Zealand, and Rest of Asia origins stay at $0.77 per pound, the rate UPS set on September 27. Rest of Asia includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The fee applies to UPS Worldwide Express, UPS Worldwide Express Saver, UPS Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Expedited, UPS Worldwide Saver Pallet, and UPS Express Freight Time of Day. UPS charges it per pound of billable weight and adds the fuel surcharge on top. The fee has no end date and stays in effect until further notice.

The China rate has climbed fast. In late May, the Surge Emergency Fee on China and Hong Kong imports was $0.32 per pound, so it has more than tripled in six months. On a shipment with 100 pounds of billable weight, the fee comes to $103 before fuel, compared with $32 in late May.

The surge fee increase takes effect the same day as UPS's latest fuel surcharge increase. That change adds 0.5 percentage points to UPS's domestic, international ground, and international air export fuel tables. If you also ship domestically or export with UPS, both changes hit your invoices on November 16.

UPS will not apply any waiver, discount, or reduction to the Surge Emergency Fee unless it agrees in writing and names the fee specifically. That means a general discount on your international services does not reduce this fee. Even so, we have had success getting Surge Emergency Fees waived or discounted for our clients. With the China rate now above $1 per pound, a discount adds up quickly on your international volume.

Review the UPS Surge Emergency Fee update effective November 16, 2026.

Importing from China, Hong Kong, Macau, or India with UPS Express services? Talk with our parcel team about getting the Surge Emergency Fee waived or discounted in your contract.