Exporting from Mexico to the US is a fairly simple international process because it is generally confined to trucking only, as Mexico and the US share a land border. So for Mexican Amazon sellers looking to expand their business, expanding to Amazon could be a cost effective and lucrative move.
Why Amazon?
With three times the traffic as its next competitor, Amazon.com is one of the biggest opportunities for ecommerce businesses. Over 2 billion unique customers visit Amazon’s US platform every month and as more transactions move online, that number will continue to grow.
The best news is that selling on Amazon.com is not just for people living in the US. In fact, becoming an Amazon US international seller is fairly easy, and Freight Right is making it even easier.
Freight Right is a member of Amazon’s Service Provider Network (SPN) and is therefore uniquely equipped to take care of all your Amazon logistics needs as a foreign importer. We can move goods from anywhere in the world into the US, by ocean, air, or land, and offer warehousing services and Amazon prep-work.
How does it work: 5 steps to international Amazon selling success.
Step 1: Set up your seller central account and create a shipment plan.
The extra step you will need to complete is a step-by-step interview to see if you need to fill out a W9 (as a U.S. taxpayer) or a W-8BEN (non-U.S. taxpayer).
Once registered, Amazon’s review process can take up to 72 hours. At this time they review your application and request additional information if needed. Provide this information, if requested, quickly to expedite the approval process.
Once you are approved, set up your seller central account and start creating listings for your product(s). Once your listings are created, you will receive your shipping destination and FBA warehouse and you can begin creating your shipment plan.
Creating a shipment plan for Amazon US is the same process as selling on their Mexico platform. However, for detailed instructions, visit our Amazon Guide. From there, you need to move your goods to the assigned FBA center.
- A valid credit card
- An internationally chargeable credit card
- Bank account (note: if you do not open a US bank account, you may need to use Amazon’s Currency Converter for Sellers)
- Phone number
- Proof residence
- Tax information
Step 2: Request a quote from your freight forwarder
To move goods from Mexico to the USA, your biggest ally is a knowledgeable freight forwarder/customs broker. They can assist with both the actual movement of the goods and the customs process, including paperwork, taxes, and other customs issues. To request a quote, we will need the following information:
- Supplier’s Address
- Delivery Address (Amazon FBA: 4-digit Facility Code)
- Shipment Ready Date
- Delivery Date
- Description of Goods (including weight, volume, HS code)
- Value of Goods
We will also want to know:
- If you have imported to the US before.
- If you have a continuous customs bond.
- How often you import to the US.
- Have often you plan to import in the next year.
Step 3: Work with a local Customs Broker to prepare export documents
A local Customs Broker must process a Pedimento on behalf of the shipper by the day before the shipment is set to be picked up from the suppliers the warehouse will not receive a shipment without a pedimento.
The shipper is responsible to provide the Customs Broker with the necessary documents to produce the Pedimento, including the commercial invoice, packing list, and trucker’s guide. The shipper must get these documents to their broker at least two days in advance in order to account for any necessary adjustments.
If you do not know of a local Customs Broker to work with, Freight Right would be happy to make recommendations, but please not it is the shipper’s responsibility to provide necessary documents and cover any fees involved in this process. We recommend appointing a broker at least 10 days before the shipment is set to be picked up.
Step 4: Your shipment gets on its way.
Once your shipment is clear of local Customs, Freight Right will issue the Bill of Lading to the trucking company who will deliver the freight to the airport, where an Export Pedimento, generated by your Broker will be expected.
At the airport, your local broker will tender the cargo and all original documents to the trucking company who will generate the in-bond truck documents that will allow the trucker to move the shipment without Border Clearance and any associated border delays. From there the freight will take off via truck from the airport and travel to its final USA destination.
Please note that Amazon sellers must deliver their product DDP. Therefore it is the seller’s responsibility to clear customs in the US. To accomplish this the seller need to become an importer of record which is a relatively easy process that takes about two days and does include some fees.
Step 5: Prepped and delivered to Amazon
Once your goods clear USA customs they are sent to our warehouse where they will be prepped and sent off to Amazon’s facilities!
Price Estimates
* These are budgetary rates only and are not considered quotes.
* The estimates include customs clearance in the United States.
* The rates do not include duty, insurance, or customs bonds.
* LTL rates are per kilo, dimensional weight factor of 6000 cubic CM or 166 cubic inches will apply to calculate the chargeable weight.
* The rates are for standard size pallets (122x102cm). Oversized shipments require custom quotes.
