Amazon Adds Two Air Freight Services Between China and the United States
Amazon launched two China-to-U.S. air freight options, Air SMP and Economy Air, to help sellers replenish inventory and prepare for peak-season sales.
What are the key facts?
- 1Amazon added two China-to-U.S. air freight services
- 2Both services target replenishment and peak-season preparation
- 3Report published on October 8
- 4Services are more directly relevant to Chinese sellers using Amazon supply chain services
What happened?
Amazon has added two air transportation services from China to the United States: Air SMP and Economy Air. Supply Chain Dive reported that the services are intended to help sellers replenish inventory faster and prepare stock for peak-season sales. The report was published on October 8, so it was not within the past 48 hours, but its impact window continues. The change is more directly relevant to Chinese sellers using Amazon Global Logistics, Amazon Warehousing and Distribution, FBA, or other Amazon-related supply chain services, particularly operators adjusting their replenishment mix among ocean, rail, and air freight. Sellers need to compare origin points, inbound nodes, chargeable weight, customs-clearance responsibilities, delivery time, and peak-season surcharges, and include air freight costs in final FBA gross margin. Faster transportation may reduce stockout risk for small and lightweight products, high-turnover items, holiday gifts, and replenishment of best sellers. However, air freight may significantly increase unit logistics costs for low-priced or bulky products.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Amazon has added two China-to-U.S. air freight options, Air SMP and Economy Air. Sellers using Amazon Global Logistics, Amazon Warehousing and Distribution, FBA, or related supply chain services can reassess their replenishment mix. Air freight may suit small and lightweight products, high-turnover items, holiday gifts, and best-seller replenishment, while chargeable weight, customs responsibilities, and peak-season surcharges may raise unit costs for low-priced or bulky products.
What should sellers do now?
- 1Create a comparison table for Air SMP, Economy Air, ocean freight, and rail freight for FBA products requiring replenishment. Enter the origin point, inbound node, chargeable weight, customs-clearance responsibility, delivery time, and peak-season surcharge for each option, ensuring both air services are evaluated.Profit calculator
- 2Add transportation costs for Air SMP and Economy Air to the final FBA gross-margin calculation for small and lightweight products, high-turnover items, holiday gifts, and best-seller replenishment. Treat the task as complete when each candidate product has a gross-margin estimate.
- 3Organize recent replenishment needs by store and category, use a procurement list to mark products suitable for air, ocean, or rail freight, and add the inventory purpose and transportation plan. After completion, ensure every product awaiting replenishment has a defined transportation method and cost record.Procurement List
- 4Recheck air freight plans for low-priced or bulky products and use a break-even calculator to estimate acceptable sales conditions after higher transportation costs. Treat the task as complete when each product has a conclusion to continue air freight or switch to another method.Breakeven calculator