Amazon GWD is bulk storage in China that refills your US FBA stock automatically. Amazon opened the first site in Shenzhen on 9 April 2026, followed by Shanghai and Ningbo. It is cheap to store in, but it only feeds Amazon US, it works only with Amazon Global Logistics freight, and once goods are declared for export they cannot come back. A China 3PL stores the same stock with no channel lock, so one pool can feed FBA, Shopify, TikTok Shop and wholesale. If Amazon US is your only channel and your SKUs sell steadily, GWD is worth testing. If you sell anywhere else, or need control over when stock moves, a China 3PL is the safer base.
This guide compares both on cost and on the rules that decide which one fits. If you sell beyond Amazon, our warehouse services page shows how we hold one stock pool in China for every channel.
Fulfillmen runs China warehousing and FBA prep, so we compete with GWD for some sellers and sell what this guide describes. GWD fees, limits and dates come from Amazon’s published GWD terms as reported by EcomCrew and ReplenishRadar, checked on 22 October 2026. Amazon can change them. The 3PL handling fees in the example are assumptions.
Who this is for: Amazon FBA sellers with products made in China, especially those who also sell on Shopify, TikTok Shop, Walmart or wholesale and need one stock pool for every channel.
How Amazon GWD works
- You enrol in Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), which needs an importer of record, an active US customs bond and a power of attorney.
- Your supplier delivers cartons to a GWD site in Shenzhen, Shanghai or Ningbo.
- The goods are declared for export and held in bonded storage. From here they can only move forward to the US.
- Amazon ships stock to US fulfillment centers when your FBA levels run low, either automatically or by your own replenishment settings.
Published GWD fees and limits, October 2026
| Item | GWD terms |
|---|---|
| Storage | $8.79 per cubic metre per month at Shenzhen. Ningbo is listed at $7.91 |
| Processing | $0.20 per carton inbound, $0.30 per carton outbound |
| Export declaration | $50 per inbound shipment, $0.10 per carton outbound |
| Storage limit | 6 months, with an extension that is not guaranteed |
| Carton limits | 25 inches per side and 50 lb per box |
| Not accepted | Includes consumer electronics, jewellery, watches, meltables and dangerous goods such as lithium batteries |
| Where stock can go | US FBA only. Not Shopify, not your own 3PL, and not back to China |
| Promotion | 30 days of free storage for inventory received by 31 December 2026 |
GWD or a China 3PL: the differences that decide it
Amazon GWD compared with a China 3PL such as Fulfillmen
| Amazon GWD | China 3PL | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales channels served | Amazon US FBA only | FBA, Shopify, TikTok Shop, wholesale and any other channel |
| Freight | Amazon Global Logistics only | Any forwarder, mode or route you choose |
| Who decides when stock moves | Amazon, or your min and max settings | You |
| Pulling stock back | Not possible once declared for export | Possible at any time |
| Storage time | 6 month limit | No fixed limit, with free storage periods depending on the 3PL |
| Product restrictions | Long ineligible list, including batteries | Set by the 3PL and the freight route, so restricted goods can be planned case by case |
| Prep, kitting and inspection | Not offered | FNSKU labelling, bundling, inspection and custom packing |
Worked example: three months of storage
You hold 15 cubic metres in 100 cartons for three months before it all goes to FBA. Freight to the US is left out of both columns, because you pay it either way.
Storage and handling for 15 CBM over three months. 3PL handling fees are assumed
| Line | Amazon GWD (Shenzhen) | China 3PL with 90 days free storage |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 15 × $8.79 × 3 = $395.55 | $0 inside the free period |
| Inbound handling | 100 × $0.20 + $50 declaration = $70.00 | 100 × $0.50 (assumed) = $50.00 |
| Outbound handling | 100 × $0.30 + 100 × $0.10 = $40.00 | 100 × $1.00 (assumed) = $100.00 |
| Total | $505.55 | $150.00 |
Check: 395.55 + 70 + 40 = 505.55, and 0 + 50 + 100 = 150. For reference, the same 15 cubic metres in US AWD at the $16.95 base rate would be 15 × 16.95 × 3 = $762.75 in storage alone. If stock stays past the free period, the 3PL column rises, so ask for the storage rate after day 90.
On storage alone, both China options beat holding bulk stock in the US. The bigger cost is usually what GWD cannot do. If 30% of your sales come from Shopify, that stock still needs a second supply chain, and every unit stuck in GWD past six months must go to FBA whether it sells or not. Our China warehouse vs US warehouse guide covers the wider location decision.
Selling on Amazon and anywhere else? Send us your SKU list with carton sizes and monthly sales by channel. We will cost one China stock pool that refills FBA and ships your other orders, next to what GWD would cost you.
Who GWD suits, and who it does not
GWD is a good fit when all of these are true: you sell only on Amazon US, your products are made in China, your SKUs sell through within six months, demand is steady, and nothing in your range is on the ineligible list. Start with one or two fast sellers rather than your whole catalogue.
A China 3PL fits better when any of these is true:
- You sell on Shopify, TikTok Shop, Walmart or wholesale as well as Amazon.
- Sales are seasonal and you may need to hold stock longer than six months.
- You sell battery products, electronics or anything else GWD does not accept.
- You want units inspected, bundled or relabelled before they reach Amazon.
- You want to choose your own freight and timing for each restock.
Can you use both?
Some sellers keep steady Amazon only SKUs in GWD and hold everything else, including multichannel stock and slower lines, with a China 3PL that also handles prep. Since Amazon stopped prepping inventory in the US in January 2026, units for FBA must arrive ready, so prep work has to happen somewhere before export. Our FBA prep in China guide explains what that involves, and our FBA prep service page shows how we handle it.
Mistakes to avoid with GWD
- Sending slow sellers that will hit the six month limit and be forced into FBA.
- Comparing storage rates only and ignoring the second supply chain your other channels still need.
- Missing the documentation deadlines after the broker’s email, which can hold cargo.
- Assuming you can bring stock back to China if a listing is suspended.
- Moving your whole range at once instead of testing one or two SKUs first.
Do this next
Split your catalogue into Amazon only SKUs and SKUs you also sell elsewhere. Send us the second list, with carton sizes and monthly units, and we will quote storage, prep and FBA replenishment from Shenzhen so you can see where GWD fits and where it does not.
Get My China Storage Quote →Frequently asked questions
What is Amazon GWD?
Global Warehousing and Distribution is Amazon’s bulk storage in China. It holds your inventory near the factory and refills US FBA fulfillment centers through Amazon Global Logistics.
Where are Amazon’s GWD warehouses?
Shenzhen opened on 9 April 2026, followed by Shanghai and Ningbo. Amazon has said it plans to extend GWD to other marketplaces but has not given dates.
How much does Amazon GWD cost?
Storage at Shenzhen is $8.79 per cubic metre per month, plus $0.20 per carton inbound, $0.30 per carton outbound and export declaration fees. Freight through Amazon Global Logistics is charged separately.
Can GWD inventory fulfil Shopify or TikTok Shop orders?
No. GWD stock can only move to Amazon’s US fulfillment network. Sellers with other channels need a separate stock pool, which is why many use a China 3PL.
Is GWD cheaper than a China 3PL?
GWD storage is cheaper than US storage, but a China 3PL with a free storage period can cost less for stock that turns within that period. The larger difference is flexibility across channels and control over stock.
