Port congestion in South China is worsening before the Chinese New Year. Yantian, Nansha, and Shekou ports face a 'race for slots,' with difficult container booking and saturated terminal yards. Overbooking by shipping companies is a major cause. Exporters are advised to plan ahead, pay attention to costs, adjust shipment schedules promptly, proactively coordinate, or consider alternative solutions to cope with the congestion.
Difficulties with Amazon FBA inbound during peak season pose a challenge for cross-border e-commerce sellers. This article analyzes the reasons behind these difficulties and provides practical strategies to help sellers avoid congestion and seize sales opportunities. These strategies include refined inventory management, diversified logistics solutions, early booking, ensuring proper shipment preparation, utilizing smart transfer services, and selecting reliable logistics partners.
The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index reveals mixed trends in the US freight market for Q3. Unprecedented discounts in parcel shipping offset rising fuel surcharges. LTL pricing remains stable, but per-shipment weight is declining. Truckload faces continued headwinds from weak demand and excess capacity, with limited near-term improvement expected. This index provides valuable insights for businesses developing their freight strategies.
This article provides a detailed interpretation of Amazon FBA's full container load (FCL) pallet requirements, covering pallet materials, dimensions, weight limits, securing methods, and loading techniques. By understanding these requirements, sellers can avoid shipment rejections due to pallet issues, improving shipping efficiency and reducing operational costs. It focuses on the specific pallet standards and best practices for FBA shipments to ensure smooth and compliant delivery to Amazon's fulfillment centers.
The General Administration of Customs recently announced new policies that eliminate the requirement for cross-border e-commerce export overseas warehouse registration and simplify export document declaration, enhancing customs efficiency and providing convenience for cross-border e-commerce companies. These new measures include a pilot program for 'inspection before shipment' for consolidated cargo and regulatory models for cross-border returns, which are expected to significantly shorten the customs service chain.
During port inspections, incorrect input information can lead to inconvenience for vehicle passage, even if the manifest is accurate. The responsibility for this should fall on the inspection point. It is recommended to promptly contact the freight forwarder or customs broker to assist in modifying the port area data to ensure smooth shipment of goods. It is essential to consult relevant units for accurate information to avoid unnecessary delays.
Amazon's FBA Inventory Placement (Multiple Destination Plan) can lead to inventory splitting and increased upfront shipping costs. This paper analyzes the pros and cons of the plan, providing methods for opting out and other strategies to avoid inventory splitting. These strategies include adjusting shipment quantities, optimizing product dimensions, and selecting partner carriers. The aim is to help sellers reduce logistics costs and improve operational efficiency within the FBA program.
This paper provides an in-depth analysis of international logistics cost components, covering transportation fees, surcharges, and customs clearance fees. It dissects various charging models based on weight, volume, comprehensive factors, and chartering. The study emphasizes cost reduction strategies such as optimizing transportation modes, planning shipment schedules, selecting appropriate freight forwarders, and leveraging information technology. These strategies aim to help foreign trade enterprises improve profit margins and enhance market competitiveness.
Amazon Canada's YYZ9 warehouse is temporarily closed for renovations and is expected to reopen in Q4. Sellers need to adjust their shipping strategies. Amazon will arrange for the transfer of any shipments already en route to YYZ9. This closure necessitates proactive planning to mitigate potential disruptions to inventory and order fulfillment. Sellers should consider alternative fulfillment centers or adjust shipment schedules to ensure continued service during this period.
LightBulbs.com doubled its peak season throughput without adding headcount by integrating logistics operations and implementing an integrated transportation and dimensioning solution. Key initiatives included: a multi-carrier platform to streamline shipping, automated package dimensioning to save time, real-time visibility to track shipment status, and recovery of carrier billing errors to reduce costs. Their experience demonstrates that technological innovation and process optimization are crucial for improving logistics efficiency.
