Amazon FBA First-Leg Shipping Explained
The Rise of Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics
The booming cross-border e-commerce market, particularly on platforms like Amazon, has led to the emergence of a specialized logistics solution: cross-border e-commerce logistics. This service caters to sellers who operate online stores globally, sourcing products from China and selling to international customers.
Fast Delivery is Key
Prompt delivery is crucial for customer satisfaction in e-commerce. While international express delivers quickly, the cost is significant. Traditional sea freight, with its minimum volume requirements, isn’t suitable for small-scale sellers.
The Solution: Local Warehousing and FBA
The answer lies in local warehousing and fulfillment services. Products are first shipped to a local warehouse within the target market, ensuring fast delivery to customers (typically within 1-2 days). Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a prime example of this model.
FBA First-Leg Shipping: Getting Your Products to Amazon
Having addressed local delivery, the challenge becomes cost-effective international logistics from China to Amazon’s local warehouses. This involves complex procedures like export/import customs declarations and tax payments. Here’s where FBA first-leg shipping comes in. International freight forwarders handle these complexities for you.
FBA Destinations: Where Can You Ship?
We offer FBA first-leg shipping services to the following countries:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- France
- Poland
- Japan
FBA Shipping Costs and Methods
This section details FBA first-leg shipping costs for various destinations, including the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Japan. Pricing is provided for different methods:
- International shipping (Full Container Load (FCL) / Less than Container Load (LCL))
- International air transport (general cargo / products with batteries)
- International express (DHL, Fedex, UPS, TNT)
FBA Warehousing Requirements
Amazon has specific guidelines for products entering their warehouses. Accepted warehousing methods include:
- Truck-style warehousing (requires appointment)
- Drop-off via partnered express companies (no appointment needed)
Strict packaging regulations are also in place. Accepted packaging options include:
- Pallets
- Small packages
For detailed packaging and labeling requirements, refer to Amazon’s Pallet and Packaging Labeling Guidelines. Note that these requirements differ between North American and European FBA warehouses.