Diesel is a critical component of terminal operations, powering container handling equipment, transport movements, and yard activity. The scale and speed of these cost increases have exceeded levels that can be absorbed within existing operational budgets.

While mitigation measures remain in place, the Port of Felixstowe has determined that a temporary surcharge is necessary to maintain consistent service levels.

Key Details of the Emergency Fuel Surcharge

• Effective date: 1 April 2026
• Charge amount: £2.95 per import laden container
• Applicability: All import containers gated out from 00:00 on 1 April 2026
• Charged to: Customs declarant (clearing agent)
• Review cycle: Monthly

The surcharge is designed specifically to recover increased diesel costs associated with terminal operations and is not intended to cover wider cost pressures.

Application and Customer Impact

The Emergency Fuel Surcharge will be applied at the point of container out-gate and invoiced to the customs declarant.

Where Woodland Group acts as the customs declarant, this charge will be passed through as a disbursement, in line with standard industry practice. Customers should expect to see this reflected against applicable import shipments from April onwards.

A small administrative rebate is provided by the port to the declarant to support the collection process.

Relationship to the Energy Adjustment Levy (EAL)

The surcharge sits outside of the existing Energy Adjustment Levy (EAL) framework.

The 2026 EAL, effective from 1 April, was calculated based on energy market conditions prior to the recent escalation in fuel prices. As such, it does not fully account for the exceptional and unforeseen increase in diesel costs.

The Emergency Fuel Surcharge has therefore been introduced as a targeted and temporary mechanism to address this specific cost increase.

Why the Charge Applies to Imports

The surcharge applies to import containers only, reflecting the structure of UK trade flows.

A significant proportion of containers entering the UK are import laden, while many export containers depart empty. By applying the surcharge to imports, the cost is distributed across inbound cargo volumes, minimising the impact on individual shipments while maintaining operational balance.

Review Process and Duration

Due to ongoing volatility in fuel markets, the surcharge will be reviewed monthly based on prevailing diesel prices.

Any adjustments to the charge will be communicated in advance, with updates expected by the 15th of each month if changes are required.

The duration of the surcharge remains dependent on external market conditions and cannot be defined at this stage.

Ongoing Monitoring

Market conditions continue to evolve, particularly in relation to energy pricing and global supply chain stability.

Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available or if there are any material changes to the surcharge structure.

If you would like to discuss how this may impact your shipments, please contact your usual Woodland Group representative or get in touch with our team directly.