For FBA shipments from Shenzhen, how smoothly the First Leg goes depends on three things: the port of departure, the delivery method and the warehouse appointment. After reading this, you'll be able to settle on your route and channel.
Shenzhen's departure conditions
Shenzhen is the most concentrated city for cross-border e-commerce in South China, with dense warehousing, distribution and customs resources nearby.
Two main ports are used: Yantian Port has many ocean routes, while Shekou Port has flexible sailing schedules.
Both Yantian and Shekou require cargo to be consolidated at the warehouse first, then customs cleared and loaded together.
Huaqiutong is headquartered in Shenzhen, so local receiving, consolidation and customs clearance can be handled as one package.
The two main lines of FBA First Leg
| Method | Operation | Suitable scenario | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean + Parcel | Ocean to port + UPS/FedEx delivery | Small and medium parcels, multiple warehouse points | Flexible, one shipment can deliver to multiple warehouses |
| Truck Delivery | Ocean to port + direct truck delivery | Large volume, concentrated warehouse points | Direct delivery to appointment warehouse, high cost-performance |
| FCL | Full container direct | Volume enough for a full container | Low unit cost, need to fill the container |
If volume is not large and warehouse points are scattered, prioritise Ocean + Parcel; if warehouse points are concentrated and volume is large, Truck Delivery is more reliable.
Shenzhen's main categories and packaging
3C digital, consumer electronics, phone accessories and smart home are the main cargo.
Battery-containing cargo requires UN38.3 and MSDS; channels for built-in batteries are broader than for pure batteries.
Single cartons must not exceed 23kg; a single side over 63.5cm counts as oversize, and overweight cartons must carry a Team Lift label.
Affix the FBA label on the outer carton and ensure all SKU labels inside are complete to reduce warehouse rejection.
How to match common channels
Main cargo goes by Ocean + Parcel or Truck Delivery to control cost; use air freight or express to cover stockouts.
For new products, ship a small batch by express first to test the waters, then scale up by ocean after validation.
For US East and inland warehouses, prioritise Truck Delivery — one appointment for direct delivery is simpler.
How transit time is composed
Total = First Leg ocean + customs clearance + container pickup + Last Mile delivery.
US West ocean reference is 20–35 days, US East about 30–45 days, plus several days for express delivery, depending on channel and season.
In peak season, space is tight and warehouse appointments are hard to get, so shipping milestones should be planned further ahead.
Cost basis
Ocean + Parcel is billed per CBM, Truck Delivery per CBM or per kg, and express by Chargeable Weight.
For high-value cargo, we recommend adding cargo insurance, insured at cargo value plus freight.
Specific costs are subject to live quotations.
Avoid pitfalls in warehousing and cargo splitting
Amazon inbound requires an appointment; if you can't get one in peak season, cargo gets held up and storage fees may apply.
Mixed loading for multiple warehouse points must be split by warehouse in advance to avoid re-sorting at the port.
Outer carton labels must correspond one-to-one with the SKUs inside; mislabeling leads to warehouse rejection.
For the first order, run a small batch through the process first, then scale up by ocean.
Pre-shipment checklist
Are the warehouse code, carton count, single carton weight and total CBM all filled in?
Are UN38.3 and MSDS ready for battery-containing cargo?
Is the consignee an Amazon warehouse or an overseas warehouse, and is the inbound time set?
If insurance is needed, are the cargo value and insured amount confirmed?
