International Shipment Workflow
How inventory moves from manufacturer to prep center to fulfillment destination.
At a high level, an international shipment moves through the same sequence of handoffs regardless of product or destination.
Each handoff in this sequence is owned by a different party, which is exactly why status and delays can get lost between them - no single party sees the whole shipment end to end unless the seller is actively tracking each leg.
The sequence
- Manufacturer
- Freight forwarder
- Customs clearance
- Prep center
- Fulfillment destination
Who owns each handoff
- Manufacturer: production and initial packaging
- Freight forwarder: international transport and coordinating clearance
- Customs: legal release of the goods
- Prep center: receiving, inspection, labeling, and prep
- Fulfillment destination: final delivery and sale
Scenario
A seller orders inventory from a manufacturer in Vietnam. The freight forwarder they've hired picks up the goods, ships them by ocean freight, and coordinates customs clearance on arrival in the U.S. Only after clearance is the shipment released for delivery to the seller's prep center, which then handles inspection, labeling, and forwarding to FBA. If the seller assumed the prep center would handle the customs step, the shipment would sit at the port with no one arranging its release.
More in International Shipment Prep
Domestic vs International Shipment Prep
How delivery method, documentation, and inspection needs differ between domestic and international shipments.
Customs Clearance for International Shipments
What sellers should prepare, who's responsible, and what causes clearance delays before goods reach a prep center.
Domestic vs International Supplier Shipments
How prep needs differ when inventory comes from a local distributor versus overseas manufacturer.
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