UPS is once again levying a surcharge on the China-to-U.S. lane as the company looks to satisfy growing export demand from Asia.

Average daily export volume from the continent increased 15.4% year over year in the fourth quarter, outpacing overall export volume growth of 11.7%, experts said. Increased demand from small- and medium-sized businesses in the retail, high tech and manufacturing sectors drove volume growth on the trade lane throughout 2024, according to UPS' annual financial report.

The carrier first introduced a Surge Fee last year, priced at $0.50 per pound for shipments from China, Hong Kong and Macau. The surcharge came while UPS grappled with a flood of packages from e-commerce marketplaces like Shein and Temu that rely on shipping services out of China.

The latest edition of the Surge Fee adds to the roster of surcharge changes UPS customers will navigate in 2025, including a higher late payment rate and new charges for check and wire transfers.

It also pressures China-to-U.S. shippers already navigating higher tariffs and preparing for the end of the de minimis exemption for sub-$800 goods on the trade lane. The Trump administration aims to eliminate the expemption for China shipments once “adequate systems are in place” for processing and collecting related tariff revenue.