General Rate Increase (GRI)

A General Rate Increase (GRI) is a pricing adjustment announced by a freight carrier that affects their base rates and applies to all shipments. In air freight, GRIs are adjustments applied to the base rate charged for shipping goods by air. These rate increases are typically a response to various factors, such as changes in operational costs, fuel prices, demand for shipping capacity, and market dynamics. These rate increases are usually announced in advance to shippers and their freight forwarders so that they can plan accordingly.

A DHL Express shipment from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) with AWB 023-12345678 sees its base rate increase from $45.50 to $48.20 per kilogram when DHL's 5.9% GRI takes effect January 1st. An Air France KLM Cargo shipment with AWB 057-87654321 from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) experiences a $3.75 per kilogram rate increase when the carrier implements its GRI to offset rising jet fuel costs and labor expenses.

• GRI
• cargo rate increase

When do air carriers typically announce General Rate Increase (GRI) changes?

Most global carriers announce a 5.9% GRI annually, with major carriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS implementing increases effective January 1st. These rate increases are usually announced in advance to shippers and their freight forwarders so that they can plan accordingly.

How much do General Rate Increase (GRI) percentages typically range for air cargo?

For 2026, most global carriers announced a 5.9% GRI across both standard and express services, continuing the trend of annual mid-to-high single-digit increases. DHL announced a 5.9% GRI effective January 1, 2024, for US account holders, though this rate varies per country - for example, the GRI for the Czech Republic ranges between 7.9% and 8.9%, while the Philippines has a 4.9% general average increase.