Amazon is expanding Global Warehousing and Distribution, or GWD, to seven more countries by the end of the year. The service lets sellers store a production run at one Amazon-operated site near the factory, then move inventory to different markets as demand emerges.
GWD currently connects to the US. The UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Canada will join by year-end. Amazon says inventory moves into a country “only when there’s real demand there.”
That means sellers can ship a production run once instead of splitting it by destination at the factory. Amazon then distributes the inventory based on where orders come in.
GWD storage costs up to 45% less than Amazon Warehousing & Distribution, its US bulk storage service. Amazon says GWD can also replenish Fulfillment by Amazon inventory up to five days faster.
GWD launched its first China facility in Shenzhen in April to serve US-bound inventory, reported Supply Chain Dive. China-based sellers make up roughly half of Amazon’s global active sellers. Walmart is also building international logistics services for marketplace merchants.
Only 30% of Amazon sellers list products in more than one country. Those selling across multiple countries earn 70% more revenue on average, the company says.
The same release also adds AI inventory agents to Seller Central, including tools for aged inventory and inbound planning. Separately, Amazon is expanding compliance testing beyond toys. Electronics and baby products are due by the end of the year. Sellers in the pilot reported savings of up to 60% on compliance costs, Amazon said.
