Shipping from China directly to an Amazon FBA warehouse is one of the most common logistics challenges for e-commerce sellers. Done right, your goods land in Amazon's warehouse ready to sell. Done wrong, you end up with rejected shipments, missing labels, or products stuck in customs.
This guide covers every step from factory to FBA warehouse.
FBA vs FBM: Why It Changes Your Shipping Requirements
FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) means Amazon stores your inventory and ships it to customers. Your products need to meet Amazon's strict preparation and labeling requirements before they arrive at the warehouse.
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) means you ship directly to customers yourself. Fewer restrictions, but you handle fulfillment.
Most sellers who source from China use FBA because Amazon's fulfillment network handles storage, picking, packing, and customer service. The complexity is upfront: your supplier must prepare goods correctly, or Amazon will reject the shipment.
FBA Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Amazon's preparation requirements are detailed and enforced strictly. Key requirements:
Carton labeling Each carton must have a shipping label with the FBA shipment ID, the destination fulfillment center address, and your shipment tracking number. These labels are generated in Seller Central when you create a shipment plan.
Product labeling (FNSKU) Each individual unit must have an FNSKU barcode label — Amazon's internal product identifier. This can be applied by your supplier (recommended) or by Amazon for a per-unit fee. If you apply them at the factory, provide the label files generated from Seller Central.
Carton limits Standard cartons must not exceed 25 kg (50 lbs) or 63.5 cm (25 inches) on any single side for most product types. Oversize items have different rules.
Poly bagging and suffocation warnings Products with polybags over 5 inches on any side need a suffocation warning. Your supplier should know this, but always verify.
Set quantities If you are selling multi-packs or sets, each set must be clearly labeled as a single sellable unit.
Confirm all preparation requirements with your supplier before production starts. Fixing labeling errors after the goods arrive in your country is expensive.
Choosing a Freight Forwarder for FBA
A good FBA freight forwarder does more than move cargo — they understand Amazon's specific requirements and help you avoid common rejection reasons.
What to look for in an FBA freight forwarder:
- Experience specifically with Amazon FBA shipments (not just general freight)
- Ability to handle carton and FNSKU labeling if your supplier cannot
- Door-to-door service to the Amazon fulfillment center (not just to a port)
- Clear communication about import customs and duties
Questions to ask:
- Have you shipped to Amazon FBA before? Which marketplaces?
- Can you handle FNSKU labeling and carton preparation?
- Do you offer both air and sea options?
- What happens if Amazon rejects the shipment?
Many Chinese freight forwarders specifically advertise FBA services. Get at least two or three quotes and compare the all-in cost, not just the freight rate.
Air Freight vs Sea Freight for FBA
Air freight to FBA:
- Fast (5–10 days door to door)
- Higher cost ($6–12 per kg all-in)
- Best for initial stock, fast-selling SKUs, or products with a short selling season
- Easier to coordinate for first-time FBA shipments
Sea freight to FBA:
- Slow (30–45 days door to door)
- Much lower cost ($0.10–0.20 per kg equivalent for FCL)
- Best for large, ongoing stock replenishment
- Requires more planning around Amazon inventory levels
Most experienced sellers use sea freight for regular replenishment and air freight to fill urgent gaps. For a first shipment, air freight is lower risk because you can resolve any FBA compliance issues quickly.
Customs and Import Duties for FBA Shipments
When importing into the US for FBA, you are the importer of record — not Amazon. This means you are responsible for:
US Customs bond — required for commercial shipments. Your customs broker arranges this.
Import duty — based on your product's HS code. US tariff rates for Chinese goods range from 0% to 25%+ depending on the product category. Confirm your rate before committing to a landed cost.
ISF filing — for sea shipments to the US, an Importer Security Filing (ISF) must be submitted 24 hours before departure. Your freight forwarder handles this.
Customs broker — hire a licensed customs broker for US import clearance. Most FBA-experienced freight forwarders include this in their door-to-door service.
Common Mistakes That Delay FBA Shipments
Wrong destination fulfillment center Amazon assigns specific warehouses through its inventory placement service. Sending to the wrong FC results in rejection or expensive transfer fees. Always use the fulfillment center address generated in your Seller Central shipment plan — never a generic Amazon address.
Missing or incorrect FNSKU labels If barcodes are unreadable or missing, Amazon will reject the shipment or charge a significant labeling fee. Have your supplier print and apply labels, then photograph several units before shipment.
Carton weight or dimension violations Cartons over the weight limit are rejected. Weigh and measure all cartons before shipping.
No advance shipping notice (ASN) You must confirm your shipment in Seller Central and mark it as "shipped" with the tracking number as soon as the forwarder picks up the goods. Amazon needs this to receive the shipment.
Mixing shipment IDs If your shipment plan involves multiple fulfillment centers, each destination must be a separate shipment with separate carton labels. Mixing cartons from different shipment IDs causes major delays.
Step-by-Step Summary
- Create a shipment plan in Seller Central — specify your products, quantities, and preparation preferences
- Share FBA requirements with your supplier — FNSKU labels, carton specs, poly bagging requirements
- Book a freight forwarder — confirm they handle FBA door-to-door
- Confirm carton labels and FNSKU labels — photograph before shipment
- Book customs broker for import clearance — provide commercial invoice, packing list, and HS codes
- Mark shipment as shipped in Seller Central — enter tracking number as soon as goods are picked up
- Monitor receiving — Amazon typically takes 3–7 days after delivery to receive inventory into your account
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a freight forwarder to ship from China to Amazon FBA? You do not legally need one, but for commercial shipments from China you practically do. A freight forwarder handles export customs in China, international shipping, import customs in your country, and delivery to the Amazon warehouse.
Can my Chinese supplier ship directly to Amazon FBA? Yes, but only if they handle all customs, labeling, and import duties correctly. This is DDP shipping — the supplier delivers to Amazon's door. The risk is that if anything goes wrong with customs or labeling, Amazon rejects the shipment and you have limited visibility or control.
How much does it cost to ship from China to Amazon FBA? Total landed cost depends on product weight/volume, shipping method, import duties, and FBA fees. As a rough estimate: sea freight to the US adds $0.50–$1.50 per unit for most consumer goods; air freight adds $3–$8 per unit. Add import duty on top.
What happens if Amazon rejects my FBA shipment? Amazon will return the shipment to a return address you specify, or destroy it for a fee. Rejection reasons are documented in Seller Central. Work with your freight forwarder to correct the issue and reship.