DHL is significantly increasing the energy surcharge for business customers. In May 2026, according to DHL, the surcharge will be 3.25% and is based on an index value of 132.3 for March 2026. Previously, the surcharge was 1.25%, which amounts to a relative increase of around 160%.
The effect seems minor for individual shipments: a parcel with a base price of €5.00 will cost €5.16 instead of €5.06. However, with high shipping volumes, the burden rises quickly. With 10,000 shipments per month, the increase alone can lead to around €1,000 in additional costs. Merchants should promptly review their shipping calculations, free shipping thresholds, and margins.
What do merchants need to consider?
Recalculate shipping costs: The jump from 1.25% to 3.25% may seem small per parcel, but adds up quickly with higher volumes. Merchants should review parcel prices, surcharge logic, and free shipping thresholds in May 2026, and update margins for each shipping profile.
Adjust thresholds for free shipping: With 10,000 shipments, just a few extra cents can result in thousands of euros in monthly costs. Check whether minimum order values, flat shipping rates or tiered pricing need to be adjusted, without unnecessarily impacting the conversion rate.
Compare carrier mix and fulfillment: The higher DHL energy surcharge should be factored into comparisons with alternative parcel services, FBA, 3PL, or regional shipping solutions. What matters are the total costs including returns, transit times, delivery quality, and customer reviews.
