Soaring Global Fuel Prices: How OFS is Navigating Supply Chain Challenges in the Furniture Industry

Over the past several weeks, rising fuel prices have become more than just another international headline. They have become a real cost issue for businesses and households across Australia.

The renewed conflict in the Middle East has continued to disrupt one of the world’s most important energy and shipping corridors, keeping pressure on global oil markets and freight networks. Reuters reported on 12 April that Brent crude climbed back above US$100 a barrel as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz escalated again, while broader reporting has shown that oil, diesel, tanker rates, and shipping insurance have all been affected by the disruption.

For Australia, that matters quickly. Like New Zealand, Australia is closely tied to global trade and fuel markets, and higher fuel costs do not stay confined to the pump. The ACCC is currently publishing weekly monitoring updates during the Middle Eastern conflict, and its latest update noted that without the temporary fuel excise reduction, retail diesel prices would likely have trended higher due to rising international refined diesel prices.

🚚 How Rising Fuel Prices Affect Supply Chains

When oil and diesel prices climb rapidly, supply chains feel the impact at multiple stages.

At the international level, shipping carriers and logistics providers often respond by adding fuel-related surcharges, emergency bunker surcharges, and war-risk premiums. Reuters reported that Maersk introduced emergency bunker fuel surcharges, while other shipping and insurance costs also rose sharply as the conflict widened. That means businesses relying on imported materials and finished goods are facing higher costs before products even reach Australia.

At the Australian level, the impact continues through local freight networks. Diesel is critical because road transport remains one of the main ways goods move between ports, warehouses, distribution points, and homes. The Australian Government has explicitly said diesel-dependent transport is essential to keeping the country moving, while NatRoad recently warned that diesel costs have surged dramatically, with more than two-thirds of operators reporting fuel now accounts for over 40% of their total business costs.

🌳What This Means for Oak Furniture Store

At Oak Furniture Store, we are seeing that same pressure across our supply chain.

As an international furniture business, we source timber from North America, manufacture overseas, and deliver products across both New Zealand and Australia. That means our cost base is affected at multiple points when fuel and diesel prices rise sharply.

Our overseas freight and logistics partners have already raised surcharge costs, which means we are now paying extra charges on furniture movement before products even arrive in Australia. On top of that, our domestic freight and delivery partners have also increased fuel-related charges locally, which means the cost of moving each individual furniture item within Australia has gone up as well.

In simple terms, this is not one single increase in one part of the chain. It is a layered increase across international freight, domestic transport, and final delivery.

💚 How Oak Furniture Store is Absorbing Rising Delivery Cost Pressure

For Oak Furniture Store, rising diesel and transport costs create pressure across every stage of delivery. Furniture is large, heavy, and more costly to move than standard parcel goods, which means each item is more affected by freight charges, handling costs, and fuel-related surcharges. From international shipping to local transport within Australia, rising diesel prices increase the cost of moving every piece through the supply chain.

Even so, throughout March and April 2026, we have chosen to keep our Australian delivery charges unchanged, even though our own freight and delivery costs have gone up. We know this is already a challenging time for many households, and wherever possible, we would rather absorb some of that pressure than pass it on straight away.

💰 What Could Change from May

That said, we also want to be transparent.

If fuel and diesel prices remain at current levels through April, we expect we may need to apply an approximate 5% increase to Australian delivery fees from May 2026. This is not a decision we take lightly. It reflects the reality that our overseas and domestic freight partners are already charging higher surcharges, increasing the cost we pay on every furniture item we move.

Our goal is to stay practical, fair, and upfront with customers. We will continue monitoring the market closely and do our best to keep any changes as measured as possible while maintaining reliable service and delivery coverage across Australia.

🎁 A Practical Reason to Shop in April

For anyone already planning a furniture purchase, April may be a good time to shop while current delivery rates still apply. Even better, we are currently offering free delivery on bestseller products in urban Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, making it even easier to save on pieces you love before any possible shipping fee adjustment in May.

Browse our bestseller collection and enjoy free delivery while the offer lasts.