KUALA LUMPUR (March 18): Pos Malaysia Bhd (KL:POS) will introduce fuel surcharges on domestic and international shipments to offset higher air transport costs due to Middle East tensions.

According to a statement posted on its Facebook page, the fuel surcharge, which is applied on top of the base price of each shipment, is set at 15% for domestic services and 40% for international deliveries, and applies to parcels collected from March 18, 2026.

For domestic deliveries, the surcharge applies to shipments between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak, Sabah/Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah to/from Sarawak.

The fuel surcharge covers domestic services, such as Pos Laju Service, Pos Laju Prepaid (Blue), MyDistribution Services and Mel Plus Service. The fuel surcharge is subject to sales and service tax.

For international deliveries, the fuel surcharge applies to all international destinations and across services such as Redly Express, Redly Priority (EMS), Small Packet, Air Parcel and International Air Bulkmail and Flexipack International.

It added that the fuel surcharge imposed on Flexipack International is applied at the counter during posting, rather than at the point of purchasing prepaid envelopes and boxes.

However, Pos Malaysia said the surcharge does not apply to postcards or letters sent to international destinations.

Beginning March 27, 2026, fuel surcharge rates for both domestic and international services will be updated weekly every Friday, via Pos Malaysia’s website, and will apply for the following week.

Several Asian airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, Batik Air Malaysia, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and Air India, have raised fares and fuel surcharges as fuel costs surge.

Global jet fuel prices have jumped 76% to about US$175 per barrel in mid-March compared to late February, just before the US-Israel war against Iran started.