What Are the Shipping Fee Items Included in European Amazon FBA? A Comprehensive Analysis of Amazon Logistics Costs

Amazon FBA Fulfillment by Amazon is a logistics service provided by Amazon that allows sellers to store their inventory in Amazon's warehouses and handle order fulfillment, delivery, and customer service through the Amazon platform. For many cross-border e-commerce sellers, using FBA can significantly enhance sales efficiency and customer satisfaction. However, FBA also involves a complex fee structure, and understanding these costs is crucial for controlling expenses.

Firstly, the most basic cost is storage fees. Amazon charges storage fees based on the volume weight and storage time of the products. For example, in 2025, Amazon sets a daily base rate of $0.7 per cubic foot for standard-sized items and $0.45 per cubic foot for oversized items. If products remain unsold for more than a certain number of days-such as over 90 days-they may incur additional long-term storage fees.

Secondly, closely related to storage fees are picking and packing fees. After customers place orders, Amazon needs to retrieve the items from the warehouse and package them, which incurs operational costs. Currently, Amazon charges $0.5 for each standard-sized unit and $0.4 for each oversized unit. It should be noted that if sellers wish Amazon to customize packaging, such as adding personalized labels or using specific packaging materials, they will need to pay higher additional fees.

In addition to the above two major expenditures, cross-border transportation is another significant cost component. For goods shipped from China to the European market, international first-mile freight typically accounts for a large proportion of total costs. This includes various methods such as air and sea transport, with specific rates depending on factors like the total weight of the goods, destination countries, and service levels chosen. For instance, in general, the air freight charge per kilogram of goods fluctuates between 5 to 10 euros; while sea freight is relatively cheaper but has poorer timeliness, making it suitable for large batch orders.

Another often overlooked but equally important aspect is the return processing fee. With increasing competition in the e-commerce market and growing consumer rights protection awareness, returns and exchanges have become increasingly common. Amazon manages returned items through classification strategies such as restocking, destruction, or resale. Depending on different scenarios, Amazon may charge sellers between 2 to 10 euros per item for return processing.

Finally, to ensure smooth supply chain operations, Amazon offers value-added services such as priority delivery plans and multi-channel delivery options. Although these services can help sellers attract high-quality buyers, they also mean additional expenses. For example, after joining the priority delivery plan, sellers need to pay an annual membership fee and face higher commission ratios for each transaction.

In summary, the European Amazon FBA shipping costs cover multiple layers, including warehousing, order execution, cross-border logistics, and after-sales services. For Chinese companies looking to expand overseas markets, when planning FBA operations, they must comprehensively consider all these factors and formulate reasonable budget plans based on their own product characteristics and market positioning. Only then can they effectively reduce operational risks and achieve the goal of maximizing profits.