Alaska Marine Lines increased its fuel surcharge for Southeast Alaska freight shipments to 22.5% effective Sept. 27, up from the most recent rate of 16% and up from a 9.5% surcharge in June 2025.
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Alaska Marine Lines increased its fuel surcharge for Southeast Alaska freight shipments to 22.5% effective Sept. 27, up from the most recent rate of 16% and up from a 9.5% surcharge in June 2025.
The surcharge was at 11% in November before spiking to 18.5% in early April — mirroring a large increase in global fuel prices due to the Iran war that started in late February.
The global energy squeeze is hitting diesel prices particularly hard, with the U.S. average price for a gallon of diesel on Sept. 22 at $6.53, up 76% from the year-ago average of $3.69, according to AAA, the nation’s largest travel services organization.
Fuel prices dropped early in the summer, as did AML’s surcharge to 14.5% in late June before rising to 16% in late August, but are again surging, with some predictions they could go much higher.
Other regions served by AML in Alaska, Hawaii and Canada’s Yukon have also seen an increase in fuel surcharges.
Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, said shipping typically accounts for about 10% of the cost of grocery store items — so a 6% jump in shipping would equate to a 0.6% price increase for groceries.
“I also think it’s important for people to know that these (surcharge increases) don’t immediately change the prices of an item,” he said. “These companies all have contracts, but, yes, over time if these surcharges are maintained they translate into higher prices.”
The updated surcharge for Southeast Alaska remains lower than for most other regions AML serves, according to the company’s website. Listed surcharges are 11.5% for Arctic/Western Alaska, 13.4% for inland/trucking, 29% for Central Alaska and Cordova/Valdez, 29.5% for the Yukon, 31% for Dutch Harbor, Kodiak and the Aleutians, and 31.5% for Hawaii.
Multiple companies involved in transport, from airlines to mail services to FedEx, are also imposing fuel-related surcharges and fees as diesel and gasoline costs climb higher amid global shortages caused by the U.S.-Iran war and disruptions to oil supplies.
