CHENGYU SHIP · AMAZON FBA SHIPPING

AMAZON FULFILLMENT
CENTER GUIDE

Understand what Amazon fulfillment centers do, how FBA inbound destinations are assigned, what shipment information your freight forwarder needs, and how to plan delivery from China without relying on an outdated warehouse list.

FBA DESTINATIONSFC CODESSPD / LTL / FTLINBOUND PLACEMENT
PLAN AN FBA DELIVERY
THE KEY RULEUSE THE CURRENT
AMAZON-ASSIGNED
DESTINATIONNOT AN OLD FC LIST
OR PREVIOUS SHIPMENT ADDRESS
QUICK ANSWER

WHAT IS AN AMAZON
FULFILLMENT CENTER?

An Amazon fulfillment center is a facility in Amazon's fulfillment network where FBA inventory is received and stored. After inventory becomes available in the network, Amazon can pick, pack and ship customer orders and handle applicable FBA customer service and returns.

For an inbound seller, the important logistics question is not simply “Where are Amazon warehouses?” It is “Where has Amazon instructed this shipment to go right now?”

DO NOT BUILD AN INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT AROUND A STATIC FC ADDRESS LIST.Create the current inbound shipment in Seller Central and use the destinations, labels and delivery instructions generated for that shipment.
AMAZON NETWORK BASICS

NOT EVERY AMAZON FACILITY
HAS THE SAME ROLE.

Amazon operates multiple types of logistics facilities. Sellers should follow the facility and address assigned in the inbound workflow rather than assuming any Amazon building can receive FBA freight.

01

FULFILLMENT CENTER

Receives and stores FBA inventory for Amazon's fulfillment network.

02

INBOUND / CROSS-DOCK FACILITY

Some inbound inventory may first move through network facilities used to receive or redistribute stock.

03

SORT / DELIVERY FACILITY

These facilities support Amazon's downstream delivery network and should not be treated as a generic FBA inbound destination.

04

YOUR ASSIGNED DESTINATION

The current Seller Central shipment plan determines where your inventory should actually be delivered.

HOW DESTINATIONS ARE CREATED

START WITH
SEND TO AMAZON.

Amazon's FBA workflow guides sellers through preparing, packing, labeling and sending inventory into the fulfillment network.

The shipment-creation process provides the current inbound destination information and shipping labels. Amazon's inbound placement options can also present different placement choices, estimated costs and network receive information for eligible shipments.

SELLER CENTRAL WORKFLOWSELECT INVENTORY
PACKING DETAILS
PLACEMENT OPTION
DESTINATION
LABELS / SHIPPINGCONFIRM THIS BEFORE
FINAL FREIGHT DELIVERY
INBOUND PLACEMENT

WHY CAN AMAZON SEND
INVENTORY TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS?

Amazon distributes inventory across its network so products can be positioned for fulfillment. Depending on the inbound options available to the seller, one shipment plan may involve a single inbound destination or multiple destinations.

01MINIMAL SPLITS

Eligible options may reduce the number of inbound destinations, potentially with an applicable placement fee.

02PARTIAL / MULTIPLE SPLITS

Inventory can be distributed across more locations depending on the available placement option.

03NETWORK CAPACITY

Amazon can show receive-time or capacity information to help sellers evaluate available placement choices.

04ESTIMATED COST

The current inbound workflow can show placement-related cost information for eligible shipments.

THE CHEAPEST INTERNATIONAL PORT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST TOTAL FBA ROUTE.Placement, final-mile distance, appointment requirements and Amazon-side inbound fees can change the economics after the freight reaches the U.S.
FC CODES

WHAT DOES A CODE
LIKE ONT8 MEAN?

Amazon facilities are commonly identified by short location codes. Sellers and freight providers may use these codes operationally to distinguish receiving destinations.

The code alone is not enough to book a shipment. The carrier should use the complete current address and shipment references from Seller Central because facility assignments and receiving instructions can change.

USE TOGETHERFC CODE
+ FULL ADDRESS
+ SHIPMENT ID
+ LABELS
+ DELIVERY DETAILSNEVER BOOK FROM
THE CODE ALONE
WHAT YOUR FORWARDER NEEDS

DON'T JUST SEND
THE WAREHOUSE ADDRESS.

A complete FBA delivery instruction package helps the international and domestic carriers match the cargo to the current inbound shipment.

01Assigned FC / destination address
02Amazon shipment ID / reference
03FBA box ID labels
04Pallet labels if applicable
05Carton / pallet quantity
06Carrier / tracking information
07Delivery window / appointment data
08Current shipment status / instructions
FINAL-MILE DELIVERY MODE

SPD VS LTL VS FTL

The final U.S. delivery structure affects labeling, carrier information and whether a scheduled freight delivery process is required.

SPD

SMALL PARCEL DELIVERY

Individual cartons move through parcel networks. Each carton needs the current FBA box label and carrier tracking information as required.

GOOD FORSMALLER CARTON SHIPMENTS
LTL

LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD

Palletized freight shares truck capacity with other shipments and requires the appropriate pallet, carrier and receiving details.

GOOD FORPALLETIZED COMMERCIAL FREIGHT
FTL

FULL TRUCKLOAD

A dedicated truck can be used for larger domestic inbound movements, subject to current Amazon receiving and appointment procedures.

GOOD FORLARGER INBOUND LOADS
PALLET / FREIGHT DELIVERY

APPOINTMENT DETAILS
MATTER.

For freight deliveries, Amazon may require an appointment or delivery window process. The exact workflow depends on the carrier, shipment type and current Amazon receiving process.

Do not assume the same procedure used on a previous load still applies. Give the carrier the current shipment references and follow the instructions shown for the present inbound shipment.

BEFORE FINAL DELIVERYPALLET COUNT
LABELS
BOL / TRACKING
CARRIER INFO
DELIVERY WINDOWVERIFY WITH THE CURRENT
AMAZON INBOUND WORKFLOW
CHINA → AMAZON FC

WHAT DOES THE FULL
LOGISTICS FLOW LOOK LIKE?

01CHINESE SUPPLIERCargo ready
→
02CHINA WAREHOUSEPrep / consolidate
→
03INTERNATIONAL FREIGHTSea / air / express
→
04U.S. CUSTOMSImport clearance
→
05AMAZON DESTINATIONCurrent assigned FC
BEFORE AMAZON DELIVERY

CUSTOMS MUST BE
RESOLVED FIRST.

Amazon should not be treated as the party responsible for clearing your imported inventory or paying your import charges.

The importer-of-record structure, product admissibility, customs entry, duties and taxes should be addressed before the shipment reaches its final Amazon delivery stage.

01Importer of Record
02HS Classification
03Customs Value
04Duty / Tax
05Product Compliance
06Special Cargo Review
WHY WE DON'T PUBLISH A GIANT FC LIST

STATIC WAREHOUSE LISTS
CAN CREATE BAD BOOKINGS.

Fulfillment-center lists are useful for general orientation, but they should not be used as the operational source for a live FBA shipment.

01Assignments change

Your next inbound shipment may not go to the same facility as your previous shipment.

02Addresses can be operationally specific

Use the exact address generated for the current shipment.

03One shipment can split

Amazon may assign inventory across multiple destinations.

04Capacity changes

Network receive conditions can affect available inbound options.

05Labels are shipment-specific

Correct box and pallet labels must match the current shipment.

06Delivery rules can change

Use current Amazon instructions for carrier and appointment handling.

DIRECT TO FBA VS 3PL

SHOULD YOU SHIP
STRAIGHT TO THE FC?

Direct-to-FBA can be efficient when inventory is fully prepared and the current Amazon destination is confirmed. But a U.S. 3PL can be useful when the seller wants buffer stock, staged replenishment or a domestic rework point.

DIRECTCHINA → AMAZON FBAFewer handling stops
BUFFER MODELCHINA → 3PL → FBAMore inventory flexibility
READ AMAZON FBA VS 3PL →
AFTER DELIVERY

DELIVERED DOES NOT ALWAYS
MEAN IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

After a carrier reaches the Amazon network, the shipment still needs to move through Amazon's receiving process. Shipment status and inventory availability can change as cartons are checked in, received and processed.

01IN TRANSIT
→
02DELIVERED / CHECK-IN
→
03RECEIVING
→
04INVENTORY AVAILABLE
BUILD RECEIVING TIME INTO YOUR INVENTORY PLAN.International transit time is only one part of the replenishment cycle. Final-mile delivery and Amazon receiving should also be considered before inventory runs low.
COMMON DELIVERY PROBLEMS

WHAT CAUSES FBA
INBOUND TROUBLE?

01OLD FC ADDRESS

The shipment is booked using a previous fulfillment-center destination.

02WRONG BOX LABEL

The physical carton does not match the current FBA box ID.

03MISSING PALLET DATA

Palletized cargo reaches the domestic carrier without correct pallet references.

04NO APPOINTMENT PLAN

Freight delivery requirements are not confirmed before the truck moves.

05CUSTOMS NOT RESOLVED

Import obligations remain open when the cargo is already near final delivery.

06INVENTORY PLANNED TOO TIGHT

The seller assumes delivery means stock will be sellable immediately.

SEND US THE CURRENT SHIPMENT DETAILS

WHAT DO WE NEED
FOR AN FBA QUOTE?

For an accurate China-to-Amazon quote, send the cargo data plus the current Amazon destination if it has already been assigned.

SEND YOUR FBA DETAILS
01Supplier City
02Product / Cargo Type
03Carton Count
04Dimensions & Weight
05Assigned FC / Address
06Shipment Labels
07Cargo Ready Date
08Delivery Mode
COMMON QUESTIONS

AMAZON FULFILLMENT
CENTER FAQ

Can I choose any Amazon fulfillment center?+

No. Use the destinations and placement options provided by the current Amazon inbound workflow for your shipment.

Will Amazon always send me to the same FC?+

No. Inbound destinations can differ between shipments, so a previous FC address should not be assumed for the next shipment.

What is an Amazon FC code?+

It is a short operational identifier used for an Amazon facility. Always pair the code with the full current shipment address and references from Seller Central.

Can one FBA shipment be split across multiple destinations?+

Yes. Depending on the available inbound placement option, inventory can be distributed to more than one destination.

Does Amazon assign the destination before I ship from China?+

The current inbound workflow provides the destination information used to ship inventory into Amazon's network. Confirm it before booking the final delivery.

Do freight deliveries need appointments?+

Appointment or delivery-window requirements can apply to freight shipments. Follow the current Amazon and carrier instructions for the shipment rather than relying on an old process.

Can ChengYu Ship deliver directly to Amazon FBA?+

We can coordinate China pickup, prep support, international freight, customs and final delivery based on the current Amazon destination and receiving requirements.

Should I use an online list of Amazon warehouse addresses?+

Use public lists only for general reference. For a live shipment, the operational source should be the current destination and labels generated in Seller Central.

AMAZON FBA SERIES COMPLETE

FROM PREP TO FINAL
FULFILLMENT-CENTER DELIVERY.

This guide completes the current ChengYu Ship Amazon FBA article series. The next step is connecting these pages through the Guidelines menu and performing a full visual and internal-link QA.

FBA CONTENT SERIES COMPLETE
IMPORTANT NOTE

Amazon inbound options, facility assignments, fees and delivery procedures change over time. This page is a practical logistics overview and does not replace the shipment-specific instructions shown in Seller Central. ChengYu Ship is an independent freight and logistics provider.

HAVE AN AMAZON DESTINATION ALREADY?

LET'S BUILD THE ROUTE
BACK TO YOUR SUPPLIER.

Send us your assigned destination, cargo details and China pickup location. We can review the shipment from supplier pickup through final FBA delivery.

GET AN FBA SHIPPING QUOTE