Fuel surcharges at DHL Express: what’s behind them – and what does it mean for you?

Fuel surcharges at DHL Express: what’s behind them – and what does it mean for you?

Transparency matters to us. That’s why we’d like to explain why shipping costs are currently changing – and how we can deal with this together.

The situation on the energy markets

Triggered by military conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz was almost completely closed at the beginning of 2026 – a key waterway through which around one quarter to one third of global oil supplies and roughly one fifth of the world’s LNG trade are transported. The EU estimates that, as a result of the crisis, gas and oil prices rose by around 70% and 50% respectively.

Since the ceasefire on 7 April and the reopening of the strait, prices have fallen noticeably. However, the situation remains fragile, and prices are still significantly above pre-crisis levels.

What are fuel surcharges – and why do they exist?

Fuel surcharges are variable fees charged by carriers such as DHL Express in addition to standard freight rates to offset the highly volatile costs of aviation fuel and diesel. They are not a profit lever, but a risk management tool: when energy prices rise, surcharges increase – and vice versa.

Specifically, DHL calculates these surcharges based on the 20-day rolling average price for aviation fuel or diesel at the US Gulf Coast. The surcharge is adjusted in increments of 0.25% and applied to the net shipment value as well as to transport-related services.

What changes from 15 April 2026?

DHL Express has announced that, from 13 April 2026, fuel surcharges will be updated weekly instead of monthly – initially until further notice. The calculation method itself remains unchanged. The aim is to reflect actual market conditions more accurately and fairly.

Current surcharge rates

Day Definite domestic services C

Time Definite international services (International express shipments, based on aviation fuel US Gulf Coast)

You can find the latest rates directly at DHL:

• Fuel surcharge air (DHL)
• Fuel surcharge road (DHL)

How we handle this at INFINIDENT

Until now, we have absorbed fuel surcharges from our logistics partners internally and have not passed them on to our customers. In light of current developments and the persistently high surcharge levels, this is unfortunately no longer possible without accepting economic disadvantages that we cannot sustain in the long term.

We will therefore show DHL fuel surcharges transparently and separately on your invoice with immediate effect. As we calculate our shipping costs based on average values, the surcharges shown may differ slightly in individual cases from the actual DHL rates – however, we always aim to pass them on fairly and as closely aligned to costs as possible.

As soon as the situation on the energy markets normalises and surcharges decrease, this will be directly reflected in your invoice.

We understand that such cost fluctuations can place a noticeable burden on dental laboratories. This makes it all the more important to us that you can always understand why certain costs arise – and how they are calculated.

Questions? We’re here for you.

If you have any questions about the current surcharges, a specific shipment or your invoice, please feel free to contact us directly. Our team is here to help.

You can reach us Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on +49 6151 396 1818 (also via WhatsApp) or by email at service@infinidentsolutions.com

About INFINIDENT

INFINIDENT means working with a friend who delivers like a professional. With more than 20 years of experience in digitally supported dental restoration, we are a leading independent CAD/CAM service partner for dental practices and laboratories across Europe. Benefit from our expertise and enjoy first-class service and independent advice. Thanks to our 24-hour production process, laboratories gain fast, simple and cost-effective access to industrially manufactured dental prosthetics. Using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technologies and validated processes, INFINIDENT Solutions GmbH produces solutions for restorations, working models, removable prosthetics and implant-supported work. INFINIDENT is a validated “Authorised Milling Partner” of Ivoclar Vivadent, a “Preferred Partner” of Dentsply Sirona, a “Certified Milling Centre” of Elos Medtech and certified according to DIN ISO 13485:2021.
For more information, visit infinidentsolutions.com.