---
title: Spaceship Peak Season Guide 2026
description: "Spaceship's 2026 peak season guide: new FedEx and UPS surcharges, Direct Signature and Spaceship Care for US orders, and a rate buffer plan."
---
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# Spaceship Peak Season Guide 2026
## FedEx and UPS have more than doubled their peak surcharges on Hong Kong to US shipments since late September, and both say rates can rise again before February. This guide covers what changed, how to protect deliveries, and what to set up before Black Friday.
### 1. Peak surcharges have jumped since August
The per-kg peak surcharge on Hong Kong to US parcels went from about HKD 6 to HKD 15.6–16.4, an increase of 160–169%. Europe and Australia/New Zealand rose sharply too. These charges sit on top of the base rate and fuel, and both carriers say they can change at short notice.
| Hong Kong export to | FedEx in August (HKD/kg) | FedEx from 21 Sep (HKD/kg) | UPS in August (HKD/kg) | UPS from 27 Sep (HKD/kg) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United States, Canada, Latin America | 6.0 Priority / 4.3 Economy | **15.6 Priority / 9.4 Economy** | 6.10 | **16.40** |
| Europe | 8.5 | **14.0** | 4.10 | **13.90** |
| Australia, New Zealand | 0 | **3.9** | 0.82 | **4.10** |
| Japan | 0 | **2.3** | 0.82 | 0.80 |
| Rest of Asia | 0 | **1.4** | 0.82 | 0.80 |
| Middle East | 12.0 (Group 1) / 19.5 (Group 2) | 12.0 / 19.5 | 24.12 | 13.90 (lower) |
What this means per parcel:
- A 2 kg parcel to the US now carries about **HKD 19–21 more** in peak surcharge than in August, before fuel.
- FedEx raised its rates twice in three weeks: Asia and Australia went up on 2 September, then the US and Europe on 21 September. FedEx also applies a minimum of HKD 1.9 per shipment.
- UPS's new rates run **until 6 February 2027**. UPS adds fuel surcharge on top of the Surge Emergency Fee.
- Figures are the carriers' published Hong Kong tariffs. Your Spaceship rate card shows what applies to your account.
### 2. New surcharges and rules since August
Both carriers now charge an extra per-package demand fee on bulky or irregular parcels, and two customs rules take effect this season.
| Effective | Carrier | What's new | Who it affects |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Nov 2026 | FedEx and UPS | [EU Product Identifiers (PIDs)](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/eu-customs-reform-2026) become mandatory for B2C parcels into the EU. They must appear on the commercial invoice. Spaceship plans to introduce automated PID submission by mid-October. | Every B2C shipment to the EU |
| 27 Sep 2026 – 6 Feb 2027 | UPS | New [per-package Demand Surcharge](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/fedex-hk-additional-surcharge-2025-0): HKD 14.70 on Additional Handling parcels, HKD 51.50 on Large Packages, HKD 1,635.30 on Over Maximum Limits. Fuel applies on top. | Heavy, long or non-cardboard parcels |
| 21 Sep 2026 | FedEx | New [Non-Standard Shipment Demand Surcharge](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/ups-hk-2025-surcharge-0): HKD 39 per package, on top of the existing HKD 233.70 Additional Handling fee. | Parcels over 25 kg, over 121 cm on the longest side, or not in a cardboard box |
**Remark: what counts as Additional Handling.** A parcel that meets any one of the criteria below pays the carrier's Additional Handling fee, plus the new peak demand fee on top.
**FedEx** — HKD 233.70 per package, plus HKD 39 peak fee and fuel from 21 Sep 2026
- **Size:** longest side over 121 cm, second-longest side over 76 cm, length + girth over 266 cm, or volume over 169,901 cm³. Minimum billable weight 18 kg.
- **Weight:** actual weight over 25 kg.
- **Packaging:** not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard box; shrink- or stretch-wrapped; metal, wood, plastic, leather or foam cases; round or cylindrical items; banded, or with wheels, handles or straps.
- **Larger parcels:** over 243 cm long, or over 330 cm length + girth, is Oversize: HKD 625.20 per shipment, plus the HKD 39 peak fee. If several handling surcharges apply, FedEx charges only the highest one.
**UPS** — HKD 144 per package, plus HKD 14.70 peak demand surcharge and fuel from 27 Sep 2026 to 6 Feb 2027
- **Size:** longest side over 122 cm, or second-longest side over 76 cm.
- **Weight:** actual weight over 25 kg.
- **Packaging:** not fully encased in corrugated cardboard; cylindrical items such as barrels, drums, pails or tyres not in a cardboard box.
- **Larger parcels:** length + girth over 300 cm (up to 400 cm) is a Large Package: HKD 527 per package, 40 kg minimum billable weight, plus HKD 51.50 peak fee. Over 70 kg, over 274 cm long, or over 400 cm length + girth is Over Maximum Limits: HKD 2,178 per package, plus HKD 1,635.30 peak fee.
**How to avoid the parcel fees:**
- Ship in corrugated cardboard boxes. Poly mailers over size limits, tubes, wooden crates and shrink-wrapped bundles count as non-standard packaging.
- Keep each parcel under 25 kg and under 121 cm on its longest side. Split heavy orders into two boxes.
### 3. US deliveries: Direct Signature is now on
Direct Signature is already included on **Spaceship Air Cosmetics** and **Spaceship Air Express (Tax Inclusive)** to the **US**. The carrier must get a signature at the address before releasing the parcel, so it is not left on a doorstep.
The risk in peak season is not lateness. Carriers delivered 94–97% of parcels on time in December 2025. The risk is a parcel scanned "delivered" that the customer says never arrived.
Why a signature helps you:
- **Fewer stolen parcels.** A parcel handed to a person cannot be taken from the porch.
- **Stronger chargeback defence.** For Visa disputes over goods not received (code 13.1), proof the item was signed for at the correct address is accepted evidence ([Visa](https://usa.review.visa.com/supporting-info/merchandise-services-not-received-condition-13-1.html)).
- **Fewer reships.** Every "not received" refund on a high-value order costs the product, the shipping and the duty a second time.
Tell your customers at checkout that a signature is required, so someone is home to receive the parcel.
### 4.Protect high-value shipments with Spaceship Care
**For high-value shipments, add [Spaceship Care](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/spaceship-care-service-guide).** A signature reduces the risk, but it does not refund you when a parcel is lost, damaged or stolen. Spaceship Care does.
### 5. Turn on email notifications
Switch on [email alerts](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/what-questicon-is-your-article-answering) in your Spaceship account before November, so problems reach you in hours, not when the customer complains.
- **Exception shipments** — you hear the same day when a parcel has an exception scan.
In peak season, assign one person to check exception emails every morning. Most exceptions can be fixed if you act within 24–48 hours.
### 6. Add a buffer to your shipping rates
Add a peak buffer to the shipping you charge at checkout until at least 6 February 2027. Carriers can raise demand and surge surcharges at any time, and the US surcharge has already risen by about HKD 10 per kg in four weeks.
| Destination | Suggested buffer (HKD per kg) | Buffer on a 2 kg order |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States, Canada | 8 | HKD 16 (about USD 2) |
| Europe, UK | 7 | HKD 14 |
| Australia, New Zealand | 5 | HKD 10 |
| Rest of Asia | 2 | HKD 4 |
The buffer protects your margin on orders already placed when a surcharge rises mid-month. A stated shipping fee is easier to defend with customers than a surprise rise later.
*Last Updated on Oct 7, 2026*
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