Sending stock to Amazon warehouses is different from ordinary importing, so shipping from China for Amazon FBA needs its own plan. Your goods must be prepared, labelled and packed to Amazon’s rules, booked into the right fulfilment centres, and delivered within a booking window, all while crossing an international border. This guide explains the main steps for sellers who source in China and send inventory to Amazon FBA in the USA, Canada, UK and Europe, the choices that affect cost and speed, and the mistakes that most often cause delays.
How Shipping From China to Amazon FBA Works
At a high level the journey has five stages: production and prep at the supplier, creating your inbound shipment plan in Seller Central, collection and export clearance in China, international transport, and import clearance followed by delivery to the Amazon fulfilment centre. Your supplier, your freight forwarder and Amazon each control different parts of that chain, which is why clear instructions at the start save so much trouble later.
- Before shipping: confirm product labels, packaging and any category requirements with your supplier before mass production, not after
- Shipment plan: create the plan in Seller Central to get shipment IDs, destination fulfilment centres and the carton labels you must apply
- In China: your forwarder collects from one or more suppliers, checks cartons, exports the goods and books the main freight
- At destination: customs clearance, then delivery to the named fulfilment centre, usually with a delivery appointment for pallets
Prep and Labelling: Get It Right at the Factory
Amazon has been moving responsibility for prep onto sellers. According to industry sources, Amazon stopped providing FBA prep and labelling services in the US marketplace from 1 January 2026, meaning poly-bagging, bubble wrapping and FNSKU labelling must be done before the goods arrive. Rules differ by marketplace and change over time, so always check the current requirements in Seller Central for your category and country.
In practice this means the cheapest place to do prep is usually the factory, as long as the supplier follows your instructions exactly. Typical items to confirm in writing include:
- FNSKU product labels: printed clearly, scannable first time and placed on a flat surface, with any old manufacturer barcode covered if it could be confused
- Protective packaging: poly-bags with suffocation warnings, bubble wrap or boxes for fragile and loose items, and sets sold together packaged and labelled as sets
- Carton labels: shipment ID and box ID labels from Seller Central, applied by you, your forwarder or a prep centre once the cartons are final
- Carton strength: sturdy corrugated cartons, void fill so nothing moves, and a sensible weight; many guides suggest keeping cartons to around 23 kg (50 lb) unless a single item is heavier
If a supplier cannot follow Amazon’s rules reliably, your forwarder’s warehouse in China can sometimes handle relabelling, re-boxing or inspection before export. Ask what is available and the cost per unit before you commit. China Cargo Hub offers free warehousing in China for reliable repeat customers, which gives you a place to gather and check goods first.
Choose the Right Shipping Method for FBA
The best method depends on your product value, size, how fast you need stock live, and how much cash is tied up in transit. Our guides cover each option in more detail for sea freight from China to the USA and Canada and air freight from China to the USA and Canada.
- Sea freight (FCL or LCL): usually the cheapest per unit for larger or heavier goods and the most common choice for restocking. Transit is typically several weeks door to door, and port congestion or schedule changes can add more
- Air freight: much faster, often useful for a first test order, urgent replenishment or small high-value items, but typically costs more per kilogram. Check that your goods are allowed by air, especially batteries and liquids
- Rail (to Europe): a middle option in speed and cost on some routes. See our rail freight China to Europe guide
- Express courier: convenient for small samples and tiny shipments, but usually the most expensive way to move bulk inventory
A common strategy is to send a small air shipment to start selling, then follow with sea freight for the bulk of your stock. For help with the cost side, read how much shipping from China costs.
Who Is the Importer of Record?
Amazon is not the importer of your goods. Someone must be named as importer of record and pay duties and taxes on entry. For most FBA sellers this is the seller’s own business, using a customs broker arranged by the forwarder, or a service that handles clearance and then delivers to Amazon. This is where your choice of terms matters: with DDP the supplier or provider handles clearance, while with FOB or EXW you arrange it yourself. Our Incoterms guide for China imports explains the differences.
Make sure your invoice values and product descriptions are accurate and match your commercial documents, and that your HS code classification is correct. Under-declaring value to save duty is illegal and can lead to delays, penalties and seized stock, which is far more expensive than the duty saved. Note that duty rules have changed in several markets, for example the US de minimis exemption ended on 29 August 2025, so confirm the current duty rates for your product before you quote your margins.
Understand Amazon’s Fees Before You Ship
Freight is only part of the landed cost. Amazon charges its own fees that depend on how you send inventory, and these have been updated in 2026. Treat the following as examples to verify in Seller Central rather than fixed prices:
- Inbound placement service fee: a per-unit fee in the US for choosing where Amazon receives your inventory. A minimal split (one destination) typically costs more per unit than splitting into several destinations, and Amazon-optimised splits may reduce or remove it if your shipment qualifies. Amazon has also offered a waiver for the first units of some new products, so check eligibility
- Inbound defect fees: reported charges for units that arrive unlabelled, incorrectly prepped or otherwise non-compliant, which can make small mistakes costly across hundreds of units
- Storage and low-inventory fees: running out or overstocking both have a cost, so align shipment size with your sales forecast
Because these fees change, build a per-SKU landed cost that includes product cost, freight, duty and tax, prep, Amazon inbound fees and a safety margin before you finalise an order.
Consolidating Suppliers and Splitting Shipments
Many FBA sellers buy from several factories. Instead of sending separate small shipments, a forwarder can collect from each supplier, check and consolidate the cartons into a single container or air shipment, and then split the cartons by Amazon shipment ID if your plan has several destinations. This saves freight cost and means you deal with one customs entry. It does need good communication: each carton must be labelled with the correct shipment ID and box ID, so send your final carton labels to the warehouse before the goods leave China.
Timing: Plan Around Peak Season and Chinese New Year
Late Q3 and Q4 are the busiest times for FBA receiving, and Amazon appointment slots can fill up. Allow extra time for transit and receiving, and avoid shipping at the last moment before major sales events. Chinese New Year also closes factories for weeks, so stock for early 2027 needs to leave early. See our Chinese New Year 2027 shipping guide for dates and planning tips.
Common FBA Shipping Mistakes From China
- Labelling after the goods have shipped. Fixing labels at a US or UK prep centre is possible but usually more expensive than doing it correctly at origin
- Mixing up shipment IDs. Cartons with the wrong label can be routed to the wrong centre or refused
- Ordering too much too soon. Test with a smaller shipment before scaling
- Choosing the cheapest quote without checking what is included. Compare door-to-door totals, including customs, delivery and fees
- Ignoring restricted goods. Some categories, batteries and hazmat items need extra approval from Amazon and the carrier
- Skipping inspection. Check a sample of cartons before export; it is much cheaper than discovering a problem after arrival
How China Cargo Hub Can Help
We help Amazon sellers and other importers move goods from China to the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Gulf by sea, air and rail. We can collect from your suppliers, consolidate cargo and hold it in our China warehouse (free for reliable repeat customers) before shipping. Please tell us your product, carton details and destination so we can recommend a realistic route; see our services for what we offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship directly from my supplier in China to an Amazon warehouse?
Yes, many sellers do. The cargo must still be cleared through customs by an importer of record, labelled to Amazon’s requirements and delivered to the assigned fulfilment centre. A forwarder usually coordinates the freight and clearance.
Does Amazon still prep and label my products?
According to industry sources, Amazon ended its prep and labelling services for FBA in the US from 1 January 2026, so sellers need to prep and label before sending stock. Always check Seller Central for the rules that apply to your marketplace and category.
Is sea freight or air freight better for FBA?
Sea freight is usually cheaper for larger volumes but slower, while air freight is faster and typically costs more. Many sellers use air for a first test order or urgent restocks and sea for regular replenishment.
Who pays customs duty on FBA shipments?
The importer of record pays duties and taxes on entry. This is typically the seller, unless a DDP provider is handling clearance on your behalf. Duty rates depend on your product’s HS code and the destination country.
Can I combine products from multiple suppliers into one FBA shipment?
Yes. A forwarder can consolidate goods from several suppliers and split cartons by shipment ID. Each carton still needs the correct Amazon labels before it is shipped.
How long does shipping from China to Amazon FBA take?
It depends on method, route and receiving times. Air is typically days to a couple of weeks, sea is typically several weeks, and Amazon receiving can add more. Ask for a current estimate for your route.
Get a Quote for Your FBA Shipment
Send us your supplier details, cartons and destination, and we will help plan the route and costs. Call +86 132 8863 7701 or use the button below.