Get expert tips on shipping to Amazon FBA from China and explore why Ship4wd is your go-to solution for efficient Amazon FBA freight forwarding.
If you own an e-commerce business or are an SMB owner looking to sell your products on Amazon via their Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) program, chances are you’re considering sourcing and importing your goods from China.
However, this is not easy as there are many bottlenecks, including language barriers and inadequate knowledge of Amazon’s FBA regulations. But we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’ll show you how to ship from China to Amazon FBA by deploying effective strategies that will help your Amazon FBA business succeed.
How to Ship From China to Amazon FBA
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide for shipping to Amazon FBA from China:
- Set up your Amazon Seller Account in the US.
- Locate the best supplier for your goods.
- Create your product listings and set up shipments on Amazon.
- Order your goods from the supplier.
- Have the best freight forwarder for SMBs pick up and ship your merchandise to a designated Amazon fulfillment warehouse.
- Once it arrives, your shipment will be inspected for quality.
- If it meets Amazon’s quality requirements, it’ll be approved and ready for purchase on Amazon’s website.
Please note that there are many more details and nuances to the process. We’ll discuss them in detail later in this post. However, remember that your success in this venture is, in part, contingent on your ability to choose the right Amazon FBA freight forwarders.
If you want a freight forwarding service that is familiar with Amazon FBA’s regulations, packs and ships your goods in line with Amazon’s requirements, and gets them to their fulfillment centers on time, choose Ship4wd.
Sign up with us today for seamless and stress-free cargo shipping from China to Amazon FBA warehouses.
Can You Ship from China to Amazon FBA Directly?
Yes, you can. There are two ways to do this:
1. Amazon Global Logistics: Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), now part of Supply Chain by Amazon, offers door-to-door ocean from China to FBA or AWD. Duties/taxes/importer-of-record obligations remain with the seller. Note that there could be additional issues, like high placement fees, delayed shipments, poor customer support, and a general lack of reliability.
2. Hire Experienced Freight Forwarders: You can use an experienced freight forwarder like Ship4wd to handle the entire shipping process from pick up at source to drop off at your preferred Amazon FBA or Amazon Warehousing and Distribution centers.
With our freight forwarding service at Ship4wd, you’ll never have to worry about looking for last-minute container or air freight slots. Plus, our responsive customer support will always be available when you need answers to your inquiries.
Additionally, you can use our reliable air and ocean freight Full-Container Load (FCL) services and Less-Than Container Load (LCL) services to avoid cargo rolls or delayed delivery and swiftly move your goods to Amazon’s Fulfillment Centers.
How to Use the Amazon FBA Prep Service in China
The FBA Prep Service was created to help merchants correctly label and pack their products according to Amazon’s stringent guidelines.
In the US, the steps are as follows:
- Navigate to the Prepare Products page
- Click the drop-down menu and select your product’s category
- Click the “Who Preps” column
- Select “Amazon”
But it’s different in China. Because Amazon’s FBA prep service isn’t provided in China, consult with your freight forwarder the option to use a local third-party logistics (3PL) for compliant prep and labeling before export.
They’ll ensure that:
- Your products have a single scannable UPC or EAN that matches Amazon’s Standard Identification Number (ASIN) in its catalog.
- Your Fulfillment Network Stock Keeping Unit (FNSKU) is correct (you’ll have to generate this in your Amazon Seller Central account and send it to them).
- Your merchandise is poly-bagged in keeping with Amazon’s requirements—transparent, fully sealed, at least 1.5 mil (thousandth of an inch) thick, and includes a suffocation warning if the bag opening is 5 inches or more.
- Labels have clear expiry dates printed using the format MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY (medical devices: YYYY-MM-DD). If you poly-bag/bubble-wrap, put the expiration label on the outside..
- The correct FBA Box ID labels are added if you have them as a merchant.
- All FNSKU and/or warning labels are applied to each product unit and repack them into the cartons.
- All necessary inserts are included in the packaging.
- They implement your instructions and guidelines to the letter.
Air vs. Ocean Shipping for China to Amazon FBA
Shipping by air differs from ocean shipping for Amazon FBA in the ways below:
| Aspect | Air Freight | Ocean Freight |
| Speed | Much faster, even taking hours for dedicated cargo planes and a few days for ordinary ones. | Slower, taking several weeks for both FCL and LCL. |
| Cost | More expensive. | More cost-effective for larger shipments. |
| Flexibility | Easier to ship small batches more frequently. | Works better with larger consolidated shipments. |
| Cash Flow Impact | Faster turnaround and more frequent shipments can mean quicker sales and better cash flow. | Cash is tied up due to longer shipping times. |
When to Choose Shipping from China to Amazon FBA by Ocean
You’ll want to use ocean freight when shipping from China to Amazon FBA USA in the following situations:
- When shipping large quantities of cargo.
- When the shipment is non-urgent or less time-sensitive.
- When shipping heavy, large, and oddly-shaped goods like furniture and appliances.
- When you have access to friendly credit facilities to streamline your cash flow. (You can use Ship4wd’s Pay-after-cargo-arrival solution if you qualify.)
- When you have a good understanding of ocean shipping lead times and can plan accordingly to avoid stockouts.
- When shipping products with generally lower price points.
- When shipping cost is a higher priority than speed.
When to Choose Air Freight
As an Amazon FBA seller, you can choose air freight instead of ocean freight under the circumstances outlined below:
- When replenishing fast-selling items.
- When shipping relatively lightweight products.
- When launching a new product or shipping initial inventory, so you can start selling and generating revenue sooner.
- When shipping high-value products such as electronics, documents, and jewelry.
- When shipping smaller or time-sensitive shipments.
- When speed is a higher priority than cost.
Steps for Shipping from China to Amazon FBA
Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to moving your shipments from China to Amazon FBA:
1. Set up Your Amazon Seller Account in the US
Create an account on Amazon Seller Central. If you have an Amazon account, you should be able to access it as part of their service offerings. Then, set up a shipping plan using this guide from Amazon.
2. Locate the Best Supplier for Your Goods
Source your products from reputed and reliable suppliers or factories in China.
Check out Ship4wd Sourcing where you can source from China’s largest B2B marketplace in English, consolidate vetted supplier orders, pay factory-direct prices with escrow protection, and get 24/7 live support when you need it.
3. Create Your Product Listings and Set Up Shipments on Amazon
You can easily set up your listings in your Amazon Seller Central dashboard.
Just follow the prompts and enter accurate product descriptions, images, and all other details.
4. Order Your Goods From the Supplier
Place your order so the supplier can start manufacturing or producing your products.
Create your Amazon Warehouse and Distribution (AWD) shipment in Seller Central (on the AWD page) and follow the AWD inbound steps (labels and any required ASN/appointment)
5. Hire an Experienced Freight Forwarder
Have an experienced freight forwarder arrange for the pickup and shipping of your goods to a designated Amazon Fulfillment Warehouse in the US.
Your freight forwarder can also have the products properly labeled, packed, and palletized by an experienced 3PL provider so that when they arrive in the US, they’ll be listed faster after inspection.
Amazon FBA Shipping Cost from China
The shipping fees depend on:
- Shipment volume
- Freight type (FCL, LCL, or air freight)
- Delivery type (expedited, regular, or multimodal)
- Warehouse location
- Shipping route.
Total landed cost varies by mode, size tier, season, and placement option. Quote live rates rather than relying on a ‘per-lb’ rule of thumb. Additional fees or surcharges, including import duty and tariffs, may also apply.
Tip: Choose an inbound placement option (Amazon-optimized, partial, or minimal splits) in ‘Send to Amazon’ to balance fees vs. shipment splits. Amazon assigns the destination Fulfillment Centers (Amazon FC).
Cost-Saving Tips for Shipping from China to Amazon FBA Warehouse
Whether you use air freight or ocean shipping, you can combine several tactics to reduce the cost of FBA Amazon shipping from China.
Let’s check out a few:
- Optimize Your Shipping Strategy: Consolidate shipments whenever possible to unlock bulk shipping rates and reduce the number of cargo journeys. You must also choose the right shipping option depending on your budget, the volume of your cargo, and time considerations.
- Optimize Packaging: Ensure your products follow Amazon’s specific packaging requirements regarding dimensions, weight, and labeling. Mind the weight of each package because you’ll spend more if they are unnecessarily heavier. Smaller, compact boxes can also help reduce shipping costs.
- Opt for Delivery Duty Paid (DDP): Talk to your supplier about using Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) freight terms to simplify the process for you. All fees will be added to the initial price, including customs taxes and duties, making budgeting easier. It can simplify budgeting, though first ensure the seller (or your customs agent) is the Importer of Record. Amazon will not act as IOR/PGA importer/consignee.
- Negotiate Better Fees with Your Forwarder: If you are a repeat customer or ship large volumes frequently, ask your Amazon freight forwarder to charge more favourable freight forwarding rates.
Perks of Using Ship4wd to Freight Forward Amazon FBA Product
As a leading digital freight forwarder with experience in shipping from China to Amazon FBA warehouses, we can help you move your merchandise faster and seamlessly.
Our China-US Amazon FBA services include:
- 24/7 shipment tracking and visibility
- Guaranteed container allocation so you’ll be able to ship whenever you want
- Pricing transparency with zero hidden costs or surcharges
- Cargo insurance in case there are Acts of God or other issues leading to cargo loss
- Multichannel round-the-clock live support from shipping experts
- Fast quoting and secured booking
- Customs clearance to get your goods into the country fast
- End-to-end logistics solutions including door-to-door and port-to-door options
If you want a proven, stress-free way to ship from China to Amazon FBA locations, get started with Ship4wd today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are some of the more common questions that we get from people interested in shipping from China to Amazon fulfillment centers and distribution warehouses:
Yes, you can. Ship4wd offers Full-Container Load (FCL) and Less-than-Container Load (LCL) options for ocean freights.
So, whether you need a full-sized 20ft or 40ft container for your shipments or just need some space in a shared container, we can help arrange that.
It typically takes 20 to 40 or more days to ship goods from China to Amazon FBA by ocean. The duration usually includes time for consolidation, sailing, customs clearance, and delivering to the Amazon Fulfilment Center.
The shipping time depends on the specific shipping route, port congestion, customs procedures, the shipper’s or supplier’s preparedness, and the time of the year. The time can be longer during peak seasons.
With proper precautions, ocean freight forwarding can be safe for fragile and high-value products.
Such precautions include protective packaging, appropriate handling procedures as laid out in the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction, and securing adequate cargo insurance.
For example, you can use sturdy and rigid boxes or custom-built crates with sufficient cushioning, such as foam or bubble wrap.
The main documentation you’ll need are:
- Bill of Lading (BOL)
- Certificate of Origin (CO)
- Packing List
- Customs Declaration (CD)
- Commercial Invoice (CI).
Your best option is to use a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) incoterms arrangement via our freight forwarding and customs clearance services.
We offer 24/7 customs brokering as an additional service for imports and exports. So, you never have to worry about that.
FCL involves paying to exclusively use a container for your cargo if your goods are highly valuable or enough to fill the container.
This type of shipping is faster, more secure, and ideal for large shipments, resulting in lower shipping costs per unit.
LCL involves sharing container space with other importers or shippers, but you pay only for the space your cargo uses.
LCL shipping is more cost-effective for smaller shipments but can take longer due to consolidation, multiple stops, and deconsolidation. It’s riskier for Amazon FBA due to potential delays and cargo damage.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to ship from China to Amazon FBA warehouses or distribution centers in the USA, let’s help you do so swiftly and without any hassles.
We help import your merchandise from all locations in China to any Amazon fulfillment center reliably.
Additionally, our freight forwarding experts can help you by providing guaranteed container allocation, 24/7 customer service, air/ocean shipment freight forwarding, and flexible payment terms and options.