What Amazon Global Logistics Does
Amazon Global Logistics is Amazon's freight forwarding service that consolidates ocean freight, customs brokerage, port drayage, and final-mile delivery into a single bundled offer for FBA sellers shipping inventory from Asia (primarily China). Sellers book containers through Amazon Global Logistics directly in Seller Central, hand off the supplier's pickup details, and Amazon handles every leg from factory dock to FBA fulfillment center or AWD facility.
AGL launched in 2017 and has grown to handle millions of TEU annually for third-party sellers. The structural advantage is direct integration with FBA: Amazon Global Logistics inventory bypasses the traditional 3PL prep step and lands directly at FBA, which collapses 5 to 10 days of intermediate handling time. The trade-off is rigidity: AGL works for clean unitized cargo with FBA-ready prep done at origin, not for complex prep workflows that need US-based bagging or labeling.
Amazon Global Logistics Pricing Structure
Amazon Global Logistics quotes ocean freight in three modes: full container load (FCL), less than container load (LCL), and air. FCL is the typical choice for established FBA sellers shipping 18 to 22 cubic meters per origin shipment. Approximate Amazon Global Logistics rates from China to US (Q1 2026):
| Mode | Origin to US West Coast | Origin to US East Coast | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL 40' high cube | $2,200 to $3,200 | $3,400 to $4,500 | 25 to 40 days |
| LCL (per cubic meter) | $110 to $180 | $160 to $230 | 30 to 45 days |
| Air freight (per kg) | $5.50 to $7.20 | $5.80 to $7.80 | 5 to 10 days |
Customs brokerage is included in the bundled rate at no additional charge. ISF filings, bond fees, and HTS code corrections are billed separately as add-ons. Refer to Amazon's AGL documentation for the live rate sheet and origin port coverage.
Worked Example: AGL vs Third-Party Forwarder Lead Time
You import 18 cubic meters of FBA-prepped goods from Yiwu, China to FBA US East Coast. Compare Amazon Global Logistics direct-to-FBA against a traditional forwarder + 3PL flow:
| Step | Amazon Global Logistics | Forwarder + 3PL |
|---|---|---|
| Factory to origin port | 3 days | 3 days |
| Ocean transit (East Coast) | 32 days | 32 days |
| Port discharge + customs | 5 days | 5 days |
| Drayage to destination | 2 days (direct to FBA) | 2 days (to 3PL) |
| 3PL receive + prep | n/a | 5 to 10 days |
| Outbound to FBA | n/a | 3 to 5 days transit |
| FBA receive variability | 3 to 14 days | 3 to 14 days |
| Total lead time | 45 to 56 days | 53 to 71 days |
| Approx total cost (18 cbm) | $3,800 | $3,200 + $700 3PL = $3,900 |
Amazon Global Logistics shaves 8 to 15 days of lead time at roughly equivalent total cost. The lead time savings translate directly into less safety stock and lower working capital. For a $2M annual seller, an 8-day lead time reduction can free $40K to $80K of capital tied up in inventory.
Why Amazon Global Logistics Matters for FBA Sellers
Amazon Global Logistics works best for sellers running a clean import flow: one origin factory, FBA-prep done at origin, predictable container fill rates. Sellers running mixed sources or complex prep should keep a 3PL in the loop because AGL is not built for cross-supplier consolidation or US-based pre-fulfillment work. The bundled pricing and direct-to-FBA routing punish anyone who needs a 3PL for partial-cycle handling.
AGL also pairs well with AWD: ship to AWD via Amazon Global Logistics, then let Amazon distribute to FBA on demand. This combination gives the deepest possible buffer holding at the lowest total cost, with the most automation. Sellers running this stack report 25 to 35 percent reductions in working capital tied up in inventory compared to traditional forwarder + 3PL + FBA.
Common Mistakes with Amazon Global Logistics
Skipping FBA-prep at origin. Amazon Global Logistics requires inventory to arrive FBA-ready. Sending inventory through AGL with missing FNSKU labels, polybagging, or suffocation warnings means Amazon refuses receipt and you pay for return-to-3PL freight to fix it.
Mixing AGL with non-AGL freight on the same supplier PO. Splitting a single supplier PO across AGL and a third-party forwarder creates customs entry headaches because the commercial invoice must match exactly one ISF filing per shipment. Choose one path per PO.
Not tracking AGL booking against FBA Capacity Manager. AGL containers landing during a tight Capacity Manager month can trigger inbound rejections at FBA. Pre-book Capacity Manager reservation fees 4 to 6 weeks before AGL ETA to ensure the inventory has somewhere to land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazon Global Logistics?
Amazon Global Logistics is Amazon's freight forwarding service that moves inventory from Asian factories to US FBA fulfillment centers or AWD facilities. It bundles ocean freight, customs entry, port drayage, and final-mile delivery into a single rate.
What does Amazon Global Logistics cost?
Amazon Global Logistics ocean freight runs $2,200 to $4,500 per 40-foot high cube container from China to US ports, depending on origin port and season. AGL bundles customs brokerage and door delivery into the published rate.
How long does Amazon Global Logistics take?
Amazon Global Logistics ocean freight from China takes 25 to 40 days port-to-port, plus 7 to 14 days for customs and final-mile delivery. Total transit time runs 35 to 55 days for FCL.
Is Amazon Global Logistics cheaper than a third-party freight forwarder?
AGL rates are within 10 percent of third-party forwarder quotes. The advantage is operational: AGL inventory routes directly into FBA without an intermediate 3PL step, saving 5 to 10 days of lead time.