DHL Parcel will increase prices for German business customers next year

DHL Parcel Germany will raise prices and introduce new surcharges for business customers as of January 1, 2023, in response to the volatile development of energy prices as well as higher transport and labour costs.

The pricing measure includes a significant increase in the basic price and two new surcharges: a variable energy surcharge and a peak surcharge, which is commonly introduced in times of particularly high parcel volumes.

To hedge against fluctuations in energy costs, DHL Parcel will introduce an indexed energy surcharge on the basic price of various products from next year onwards. The amount of the surcharge will be determined monthly in a transparent and comprehensible way, based on the price development of diesel, gas and electricity. The three components are evaluated on the basis of the energy mix of an average shipment.

The peak surcharge will be introduced only in November and December next year due to necessary investments in the company's own infrastructure, high personnel costs and higher purchase prices, especially during the Christmas period.

As part of the price increase, the road toll and CO2 surcharges will also be adjusted rising by €0.01 per shipment due to rising toll rates and higher CO2 prices per tonne.

“Inevitable” price rises

"We take our claim to be a reliable partner to our customers very seriously, which is why we have not yet made any price adjustments during the year despite massive cost increases. But these are now inevitable. We all notice the changing costs. Therefore, we will introduce new surcharges due to the volatile market development, which is strongly driven by external events, and the necessary investments in our network,” explained Ole Nordhoff, head of marketing for Deutsche Post DHL Group’s Post & Parcel Germany division.

The increases affect DHL parcel shipments from business customers who will be informed individually about the changes. The prices for private customers remain unchanged. The national and international business of DHL Express in Germany is not affected.

DHL Parcel Germany already raised some delivery prices for private customers as of July 1, 2022. With those changes, the price advantage for small parcels and parcel stamps purchased online no longer applies to domestic parcel shipments.

“Eliminating price differences between stamps bought online and in retail outlets reduces complexity and makes parcel prices more transparent for customers,” DHL Parcel Germany explained in June.