Amazon Logistics Guide 2027: AGL, AWD, MCF and Supply Chain by Amazon

Amazon's logistics offering for sellers has grown from simple FBA into a stack that covers factory pickup, ocean freight, customs, bulk storage, domestic transport, FBA replenishment, and fulfillment for orders on other channels. Heading into 2027, the practical question for sellers is which pieces of that stack to adopt and which to keep with a freight forwarder or a 3PL. This guide explains each component, what Amazon has announced recently, and how to decide.

What "Amazon Logistics" Means for Sellers

There are two meanings, and sellers mix them up.

1. Amazon's own delivery network that carries parcels to customers. You do not buy this directly except through FBA, MCF, or Buy with Prime.
2. Supply Chain by Amazon, the set of services you can buy to move inventory from your manufacturer to a fulfillment center or to any sales channel. This is the focus here.

Amazon announced Supply Chain by Amazon in September 2023 as an end-to-end set of services, and has kept expanding it since.

The Components of Supply Chain by Amazon

Amazon Global Logistics (AGL)

AGL covers origin pickup, ocean freight, and customs clearance. At launch, Amazon described all-inclusive pricing and discounts on cross-border transport for inventory bound for Amazon Warehousing and Distribution. In September 2025, Amazon announced more direct routes from manufacturing hubs, with current lanes running from China and Hong Kong to the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and a stated aim of covering 96% of inbound FBA volume by the end of 2026. Amazon also announced generative AI support for customs clearance that pre-fills fields such as product classification and flags likely errors, with sellers reviewing and confirming the output. Amazon reported early results of over 50% less time spent on customs paperwork. Those are Amazon's own figures, so treat them as directional.

Partnered Carrier Program (PCP)

PCP is the domestic leg, where Amazon-partnered carriers deliver your inventory into Amazon's network, often at rates Amazon promotes as lower than alternatives. It matters most for sellers sending full pallets to FBA or AWD.

Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD)

AWD is bulk storage that sits upstream of FBA. Instead of sending small, tightly planned shipments to many fulfillment centers, you send large quantities to AWD and let Amazon replenish FBA automatically. At launch Amazon positioned AWD storage as materially cheaper than FBA storage. In 2025 Amazon announced Global Warehousing and Distribution, bulk storage near manufacturing sites, with first facilities expected in places such as China and Vietnam. Compare AWD rates with your current storage costs in Amazon storage fees and the broader FBA fee guide before moving stock.

Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF)

MCF lets you fulfill orders from other channels out of the same inventory pool. In September 2025, Amazon said MCF had launched for Walmart orders, was expanding its Shopify partnership, and was planned for Shein, on top of existing coverage of channels such as Etsy, Temu, and TikTok Shop. Amazon cited average benefits of about 19% fewer out-of-stock rates and a 12% rise in inventory turnover for sellers using MCF alongside FBA. Again, those are company-reported averages. Third-party coverage of 2026 describes MCF upgrades including photo proof of delivery, live merchant support, and MCF returns, but check Amazon's current MCF pricing page for rates and availability in your marketplace.

Amazon Logistics vs a Forwarder or 3PL

Where Amazon wins

• One vendor from factory to FBA, with visibility inside Seller Central
• Integrated inbound with FBA placement, so fewer misrouted or delayed shipments
• A single inventory pool across Amazon and other channels via MCF
• Potentially lower cost on high-volume lanes Amazon has built

Where an independent forwarder or 3PL wins

• Lanes or origin countries Amazon does not serve
• Multi-warehouse strategies that include non-Amazon fulfillment for B2B or wholesale
• Custom kitting, inspection, and prep needs
• Negotiating leverage and flexibility, since you are not tied to one platform

A hybrid is common: AGL on the main China to US lane, a 3PL for wholesale and retail replenishment.

How to Decide: A Practical Checklist

1. Map your lanes: origin, destination, volume per month, and container or pallet mix.
2. Get an all-in landed cost per unit from Amazon and from two forwarders, including duties, customs, inland transport, and storage.
3. Check inbound lead time and variability. A cheaper lane that adds two weeks of stockout risk is not cheaper.
4. Review returns and damage handling, especially if you plan to use MCF. See Amazon returns for how returns flow in FBA.
5. Check insurance coverage for goods in transit and in storage; Amazon-provided coverage and seller coverage differ. See Amazon insurance for sellers.
6. Pilot one SKU or one container before you move your whole catalog.
7. If you also ship yourself, compare against FBM economics.

Seasonality matters too. Plan inbound around Q4 and event windows with the Amazon sales calendar.

Common Mistakes Sellers Make

• Comparing freight rates instead of landed cost. A low ocean rate can hide customs, inland, and storage charges that erase the saving.
• Moving everything at once. Pilot one lane first, so a routing or documentation issue does not stall your whole catalog.
• Ignoring product data quality. Customs automation only helps if product descriptions, HS classifications, and invoices are accurate. Clean listings also feed better ads, so keep your listing content and shipping data aligned.
• Forgetting the tooling. Inventory planning, reorder alerts, and forecasting software matter as much as the freight lane. See best Amazon seller tools.

Costs to Model for 2027

Do not rely on a blog for rates. Pull current quotes and build a per-unit model that includes:

• Origin pickup and port fees
• Ocean or air freight
• Customs brokerage, duties, and tariffs
• Inland or partnered carrier transport
• AWD or 3PL storage
• FBA fees and inbound placement fees
• MCF handling fees if you fulfill other channels

Tariff and trade policy has been volatile, so build scenarios with different duty rates rather than a single point estimate.

The GTM angle

Logistics changes create buying windows for anyone who sells to Amazon sellers: freight forwarders, 3PLs, customs brokers, prep centers, inventory software, and agencies.

Concrete plays:

• Trigger-based cold email: Target brands showing logistics pain: repeated stockouts, frequent "currently unavailable" status, new origin countries, or fresh funding. Open with a specific observation, such as a stockout on a best-selling ASIN, and tie it to your offer.
• ICP segmentation: Segment by volume and complexity. Sub-container sellers need prep and consolidation, container-scale sellers need forwarding and customs, and multi-channel brands need MCF and inventory sync tooling.
• Offers: A landed-cost audit, a lane-by-lane comparison versus Amazon's rates, or a free stockout-risk review is a low-friction first step.
• Positioning: Service providers can position as the neutral layer that compares Amazon's stack with alternatives, which many sellers want but do not have time to build.

Find prospects in the Cruxfinder directory, keep an eye on the Amazon seller newsletter for timely angles, and test your sequence economics in the cold email ROI calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Supply Chain by Amazon?

It is Amazon's set of end-to-end services for moving inventory from manufacturer to customer, including Amazon Global Logistics, the Partnered Carrier Program, Amazon Warehousing and Distribution, and Multi-Channel Fulfillment.

Is Amazon Global Logistics cheaper than a freight forwarder?

It can be on lanes Amazon has built, but it depends on volume, origin, and cargo. Compare an all-in landed cost per unit from Amazon and at least two forwarders before committing.

What is AWD and how does it differ from FBA?

AWD is bulk storage upstream of FBA. You send large quantities to AWD, and Amazon replenishes FBA locations as needed. FBA is the fulfillment layer that picks, packs, and ships customer orders.

Can I use Amazon to fulfill orders from Walmart or Shopify?

Yes, through Multi-Channel Fulfillment. Amazon announced Walmart support in September 2025 and an expanded Shopify partnership. Confirm availability, fees, and packaging options for your marketplace.

Should I move everything to Amazon logistics?

Not at first. Pilot a single lane or container, compare cost and lead time, and keep a backup forwarder or 3PL for resilience.

Takeaways

• Supply Chain by Amazon bundles freight, customs, bulk storage, domestic transport, and multi-channel fulfillment.
• Amazon's reported benefits are company figures, so verify them against your own lanes.
• Compare all-in landed cost per unit, not headline freight rates.
• A hybrid with an independent forwarder or 3PL is often the safest approach.
• Logistics pain is a strong outbound trigger for providers selling to Amazon sellers.

Want a steady pipeline from Amazon sellers and ecommerce brands? See Cruxfinder's cold outbound service and the free GTM calculators.