Why FBA Freight Is Different From a Standard Import
Shipping inventory into Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) network is not the same task as importing goods into a company's own warehouse. Amazon enforces its own labeling, packaging and carton specifications on top of ordinary customs and shipping requirements, and a shipment can be refused at the receiving dock — long after it has cleared customs — if those specifications aren't met. For sellers sourcing from Chinese factories, that means freight forwarding and FBA prep need to be planned together from the outset, not treated as a customs-and-delivery problem that happens to end at an Amazon warehouse instead of a private one.
FNSKU Labeling and Barcoding
Every unit going into Amazon's network typically needs a scannable barcode Amazon can use to identify it in its systems — either the manufacturer's barcode if the seller has opted into using it, or Amazon's own FNSKU label applied to each individual unit. Labels need to be placed where they're clearly scannable and not obscured by other markings, and mixing labeled and unlabeled units in the same carton, or applying a label incorrectly over a manufacturer's own barcode, is one of the most common reasons FBA shipments get flagged during receiving. This labeling work is usually done either at the factory before cargo leaves China or at a dedicated FBA prep warehouse, and coordinating which point in the supply chain handles it is one of the first decisions a seller and their forwarder need to align on.
Poly-Bagging, Bundling and Other Prep Requirements
Beyond labeling, many products require additional prep before Amazon will accept them: poly-bagging for loose or fragile items, suffocation warning labels on certain bag sizes, bundling multiple units sold together as a single set, or removing manufacturer packaging that doesn't meet Amazon's requirements. Getting this prep done at origin in China — either at the factory or a consolidation warehouse — is almost always more cost-effective than paying Amazon's own prep service fees or a third-party prep center in the destination country, provided the freight forwarder's warehouse team is set up to handle it correctly before the shipment departs.
Choosing Between Air, Sea FCL and Sea LCL for FBA Inventory
FBA sellers typically choose their shipping mode based on how urgently new stock is needed relative to current inventory levels and Amazon's own restock guidance. Air freight suits urgent replenishment or new product launches where stockouts would cost more in lost sales rank than the higher freight cost; sea freight — FCL for sellers with enough volume to fill a container, LCL for smaller or newer sellers — is the standard choice for planned, non-urgent replenishment given its substantially lower cost per unit. Many established FBA sellers run a blended strategy: the bulk of inventory by sea to keep landed cost down, with smaller air shipments held in reserve to cover any gap if sea freight runs behind schedule.
Splitting Inventory Across Fulfillment Centers
Amazon's inbound system frequently splits a single shipment plan across multiple fulfillment centers rather than delivering everything to one warehouse, which means a single freight booking can need to arrive as several separate truck deliveries to different addresses once it clears customs and reaches a domestic prep or deconsolidation point. Sellers and their forwarders need to plan for this split at the trucking stage — a single ocean or air shipment consolidated at origin may still need to be broken down and distributed domestically to match Amazon's placement instructions, adding a coordination step that doesn't apply to a straightforward single-destination import.
Pallets, Carrier Appointments and Compliance
For larger shipments delivered as palletized freight, Amazon has specific rules on pallet dimensions, wrapping and weight limits, and most fulfillment centers require a scheduled delivery appointment before a truck will be accepted at the dock. Wood pallets used for these shipments, like any wood packaging entering most destination countries, must carry ISPM-15 heat-treatment stamps to clear customs before they ever reach the appointment stage. Missing an appointment window or arriving with a non-compliant pallet are avoidable delays that a forwarder experienced in FBA delivery routinely builds into the trucking plan.
Who Is the Importer of Record for FBA Shipments
A point that catches many new FBA sellers off guard is that Amazon does not import goods on a seller's behalf — the seller (or a customs broker acting for them) remains the importer of record responsible for duties, correct HS classification and customs compliance, even though the final delivery address is an Amazon warehouse. Sellers shipping into markets like the US, UK or EU need their own importer registration and broker relationship in place; a freight forwarder handling FBA freight typically coordinates this customs clearance step as part of the booking rather than leaving the seller to arrange it separately at the last minute.
Planning Around Peak Season and Restock Limits
Amazon periodically adjusts inventory restock limits based on a seller's account history and the time of year, tightening ahead of peak shopping seasons when warehouse capacity is under the most pressure. Combined with the realistic transit times for sea freight from China — typically several weeks depending on destination — this means FBA replenishment planning needs to start well ahead of when stock is actually needed, factoring in production lead time, prep, freight transit, and any customs delay. RR Brothers and Logistics supports FBA sellers with factory pickup, FNSKU labeling and prep coordination, and FCL, LCL and air freight booking from China to fulfillment centers across multiple markets, keeping the freight and prep timeline aligned with each seller's restock calendar.
