Overview

Amazon will add a seasonal holiday peak fulfillment surcharge for FBA sellers that ship to Germany, running from 15 October 2025 through 14 January 2026. The fee averages €0.19 per unit for small and standard parcels and is meant to offset higher transportation and labor costs during the busiest shopping period. Sellers with inventory in German fulfillment centers or using the European cross‑border FBA network must incorporate the extra charge into their Q4 profit calculations.

Key Points

• Seasonal surcharge period — The fee applies to every FBA order delivered to German buyers between 15 Oct 2025 and 14 Jan 2026.
• Average cost per item — Amazon estimates the charge at €0.19 per unit, with exact amounts varying by size tier and fulfillment route.
• Cross‑border coverage — Orders fulfilled from any European hub—including shipments from the UK to the EU—are subject to the same surcharge.
• Oversize exemption — Items classified as oversize, as well as a few specialized FBA categories, are excluded from the fee.
• Extended European reach — Select orders shipped to other European countries (e.g., France, Italy) will also incur the holiday peak fee.
• Impact on high‑volume sellers — Moving 10,000 units during the window would generate roughly €1,900 in additional costs, directly trimming margins.

How the Holiday Peak Fee Works

1. Fee determination — Amazon assigns a per‑item surcharge based on the product’s size tier (e.g., Small Standard, Large Standard).

   • Example: A Small Standard parcel of a lightweight accessory may be charged €0.18, while a Large Standard parcel of a medium‑weight gadget could be charged €0.22.

2. Eligibility check — The system evaluates each order’s destination and fulfillment path at checkout.

   • Example: An order fulfilled from the German warehouse for a German buyer triggers the fee, whereas the same SKU shipped from a U.S. fulfillment center to a U.S. buyer does not.