Amazon FBA Shipping from China
Export freight for amazon fba — packing specification, container loading, HS classification and clearance. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP or delivered duty-paid.
Amazon FBA shipping from China is straightforward once the cargo is understood: this is freight that inbound to a fulfilment centre, where the receiving rules are stricter than customs, and the routing follows from that.
The pricing follows from it. Mixed. Marketplace inbound is priced per carton and per pallet with hard limits on both weight and dimension, and a carton that breaches them is refused at receiving rather than surcharged.
A caution particular to this commodity. The consignment clears customs and then gets refused at the dock over pallet height or an unreadable label. Amazon charges non-compliance per unit, so a labelling error on 2,000 pieces costs more than the freight did. Confirm the current prep requirements for the destination marketplace before the factory packs, because they change without notice.
On the compliance side the recurring item is straightforward to state and easy to leave too late: Marketplace prep compliance, and IOSS or destination VAT registration before arrival. HS classification generally falls in chapter mixed, though the exact heading depends on specification and should be confirmed against your own product before you rely on a duty estimate.
Freight reference — Amazon FBA
| Typical HS chapter | mixed |
|---|---|
| Cargo behaviour | Inbound to a fulfilment centre, where the receiving rules are stricter than customs |
| How it prices | Per carton and pallet |
| Usual service | Sea planned, air for restocks |
| Main compliance step | Marketplace prep compliance, and IOSS or destination VAT registration before arrival |
| Trade terms available | EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP or delivered duty-paid |
HS chapters are indicative. The binding classification depends on your exact specification — confirm the heading before relying on a duty estimate.
Packing and protection
Every carton needs its FNSKU and shipment-ID labels flat on a single face, no label wrapping a corner. Cap cartons at 23 kg unless the contents are a single oversized unit, and apply a team-lift mark above that. Box-content information has to be provided as a manifest or per-carton declaration before the appointment is booked, not on arrival.
Loading the container
On loading: Palletise to the receiving standard — pallet height, overhang tolerance and stretch-wrap coverage are all specified, and appointment slots are refused for pallets that do not conform.
Choosing the service
On routing: Sea for replenishment planned around the season; air for launches, restocks and anything where going out of stock costs more than the freight. Split shipments across both when a stockout risk is real.
Where it usually goes wrong
The consignment clears customs and then gets refused at the dock over pallet height or an unreadable label. Amazon charges non-compliance per unit, so a labelling error on 2,000 pieces costs more than the freight did. Confirm the current prep requirements for the destination marketplace before the factory packs, because they change without notice.
Live rates on lanes that carry this cargo
Published per-kilo and per-CBM rates from China, updated from carrier feeds. Rates are lane-based rather than commodity-based, so these apply to amazon fba as much as to any other general cargo on the same route.
Frequently asked questions
How is freight priced for amazon fba?
Mixed. Marketplace inbound is priced per carton and per pallet with hard limits on both weight and dimension, and a carton that breaches them is refused at receiving rather than surcharged.
How should amazon fba be packed for export?
Every carton needs its FNSKU and shipment-ID labels flat on a single face, no label wrapping a corner. Cap cartons at 23 kg unless the contents are a single oversized unit, and apply a team-lift mark above that. Box-content information has to be provided as a manifest or per-carton declaration before the appointment is booked, not on arrival.
Air or sea for amazon fba?
Sea for replenishment planned around the season; air for launches, restocks and anything where going out of stock costs more than the freight. Split shipments across both when a stockout risk is real.
What customs paperwork does amazon fba need?
The step that most often holds a shipment is Marketplace prep compliance, and IOSS or destination VAT registration before arrival. Classification normally falls in HS chapter mixed, but the exact heading depends on your specification — send the product details and we will confirm the code and the duty position for the destination before you commit.
What goes wrong most often with amazon fba shipments?
The consignment clears customs and then gets refused at the dock over pallet height or an unreadable label. Amazon charges non-compliance per unit, so a labelling error on 2,000 pieces costs more than the freight did. Confirm the current prep requirements for the destination marketplace before the factory packs, because they change without notice.
Is there anything specific to amazon fba we should know?
The receiving warehouse, not customs, is the strictest checkpoint. Carton weight caps, label placement, box-content declarations and appointment windows are all enforced mechanically, and non-compliance is charged per unit rather than argued about.
Can you quote amazon fba on FOB or CIF rather than duty-paid?
Yes. We quote EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP and delivered duty-paid on this cargo. The term decides how much of the journey is already inside the price — the trade-terms table on any of our rate pages sets out exactly who carries which cost at each stage.