Fuel Surcharges Are Here — Freight Costs Rising From Monday 16 March
⛽ IMPORTANT NOTICE — ALL QUOTES SUBJECT TO CHANGE & CONFIRMED AT TIME OF BOOKING |
What's Happening This Week
Australian businesses need to prepare for a new wave of freight cost increases starting this Monday, 16 March 2026. Road transport operators have confirmed fuel levy increases, and more carriers across ocean and air freight are expected to follow as global diesel and jet fuel prices continue to spike — driven directly by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude oil has surged past US$114 per barrel — the highest level since 2022 — and Australian diesel prices have risen 50–60 cents per litre in just eight days. The speed of these increases is unprecedented. Both domestic transport operators and international carriers are now passing fuel cost increases through, and the flow-on effect is hitting every mode of freight: road, ocean, and air.
What Is Confirmed from 16 March
Road Transport (Australia) | Some road carriers have advised a fuel levy increase → 30% effective 16 March. Further increases expected. |
Ocean Freight | All major carrier war risk & emergency surcharges are already embedded and active. Subject to further revision. |
Air Freight | FSC components updating frequently across all airlines — confirmed at time of booking |
Additional carriers | Further surcharges and levy increases are anticipated across all modes from 16 March and beyond |
Full Carrier Surcharge Status — 10 March 2026
Carrier/Operator | Mode | Surcharge / Increase | Effective | Status |
Road Transport | 🚛 Road | Fuel levy increasing → 30% | Mon 16 March 2026 | CONFIRMED |
Hapag-Lloyd | 🚢 Ocean | War Risk Surcharge $1,500/TEU | Active now | ACTIVE |
Maersk | 🚢 Ocean | Emergency Freight Increase $1,800/TEU | Active now | ACTIVE |
CMA CGM / ANL | 🚢 Ocean | Emergency Cargo Surcharge $2,000–$4,000 | Active now | ACTIVE |
MSC | 🚢 Ocean | War Risk + storage $25 USD/TEU/day after 14 days | Active now | ACTIVE — extended to Africa/Indian Ocean |
ONE | 🚢 Ocean | Persian Gulf bookings suspended | Active now | SUSPENDED |
All Airlines | ✈ Air | FSC — updating frequently | Ongoing | SUBJECT TO CHANGE |
Additional carriers | All modes | Further surcharges expected | From 16 March+ | ANTICIPATED |
The Quote Disclaimer That Now Applies to Everything
⚠ ALL QUOTES SUBJECT TO CHANGE — CONFIRMED AT TIME OF BOOKING Due to the unprecedented speed and scale of current fuel price movements, all freight quotes provided by D&D Worldwide Logistics are subject to change without notice. All rates — including fuel levies, surcharges, bunker adjustments, and transport costs — will be confirmed at the time of booking. No rate should be considered fixed until a written booking confirmation has been issued by DDWL. |
Why Fuel Costs Are Rising So Fast in Australia
• Australia imports 90%+ of its refined fuel — global oil shocks flow directly to Australian pump prices within days.
• Diesel reserves: only 34 days — well below the IEA's recommended 90-day minimum. Limited buffer against sustained supply shock.
• 50–60 cents/litre rise in 8 days — a rate of increase not seen since COVID. ACCC confirmed the international benchmark rose 17% in a single week.
• Strait of Hormuz restricted — ~20% of globally traded oil flows through this route. Ongoing conflict is squeezing global crude supply.
• ExxonMobil emergency response — chartering tankers to ship ~600,000 barrels of Australian fuel from the US as emergency reserve measures are activated.
• ACCC monitoring — written to major fuel companies. Watching for price gouging. Commissioner Anna Brakey has issued public statements.
• Forecast: $2.50+/litre — analysts warn pump prices could exceed this in an extreme scenario (Compare the Market).
What D&D Worldwide Logistics Is Doing
• Monitoring carrier and transport partner advisories daily — passing updates to clients immediately with full transparency
• Reviewing all active quotes — where fuel levy or surcharge changes apply before booking confirmation, we will notify you
• Working with multiple transport operators and carriers to source the most competitive options available in this market
• Passing all surcharges through at cost — we are not marking up fuel increases
• Including the confirmed-at-booking disclaimer on all quotes issued from this date
What You Should Do Now
• Book now if cargo is ready — rates are confirmed at time of booking; delays risk higher costs
• Request a fresh quote for anything quoted before 10 March — fuel components have materially changed
• Check war risk coverage with your cargo insurer — don't assume existing policies cover current conflict zones
• Expect further increases — this is not a one-off adjustment. The situation is evolving daily
• Talk to us — we'll find the most cost-effective routing and timing for your specific cargo
Contact D&D Worldwide Logistics
T: +61 3 5222 2579
www.ddwlogistics.com