Selling Globally on Amazon: A Practical Guide for Sellers

 

TL;DR

• • Cross-border e-commerce is growing fast, with Amazon leading the space—24% of global shoppers made their last cross-border purchase on Amazon.
  • Amazon programs, such as Global Selling, FBA Export, and NARF, enable sellers to reach markets like the U.S., U.K., Australia, Singapore, and more without setting up a local presence.
  • Selling internationally ties up a lot of cash. Sellers face costs such as referral fees, fulfillment, currency conversion, and value-added tax (VAT), as well as delayed payouts.
  • To succeed globally, sellers should find the right working capital partners, localize listings, price competitively, plan inventory early, and track margins by country.
  • CrediLinq offers up to $2 million in flexible funding with no equity, paperwork, or lock-in, helping sellers manage inventory and scale across borders.

In 2024, online retail sales were estimated at $6 trillion, with projections indicating that figure would reach nearly $8 trillion by 2028. But what’s especially notable is how much of that activity is happening across borders.

By 2025, the B2C cross-border e-commerce market was expected to reach $1.21 trillion, up from $562 billion in 2019. That means roughly one in every five e-commerce dollars globally comes from cross-border sales.

Amazon is leading this trend. According to a global survey conducted in September 2024, 24% of online shoppers across 37 countries made their most recent cross-border purchase on Amazon, surpassing any other platform. In fiscal year 2024 alone, Amazon’s cross-border sales were over $638 billion.

Source Statista 2025

With seller-friendly programs like Amazon Global Selling, FBA Export, and SEND, Amazon helps businesses tap into this global demand without needing to set up locally in each market.

Whether you’re in Singapore or the United Kingdom, you can use Amazon’s tools to sell in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond. It handles shipping, customer service, and even returns, allowing sellers to focus on expanding their business globally.

In this blog post, we will discuss Amazon’s cross-border e-commerce program and guide on expanding your business globally.

What Is Amazon Cross-Border E-Commerce?

Amazon cross-border e-commerce allows sellers to reach customers in other countries without setting up physical operations in each market. Sellers can list products globally, ship from their home country or use Amazon’s warehouses, and have orders delivered to customers in places like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

At the heart of this model are two fulfillment options:

• FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) – Amazon stores, ships, and handles returns for you. This also makes your products Prime-eligible in many countries.
• FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) – You handle storage, shipping, and support independently. This approach is more hands-on, offering flexibility and control.

To make cross-border selling smoother, Amazon offers programs that combine global reach with logistics support:

Together, these tools allow sellers to operate globally without needing warehouses, offices, or teams in every region—Amazon takes care of the heavy lifting.

Benefits of Selling Cross-Border on Amazon

Selling internationally with Amazon gives sellers a head start by combining trusted infrastructure, tools, and global customer reach. Here are some key benefits:

• Global access with one seller account: Through Amazon Global Selling, sellers can access major markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong—without setting up locally.
• More sales opportunities across regions and seasons: Sellers benefit from events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and local festivals in multiple countries, spreading revenue across the year.
• Streamlined operations and tools: Programs like FBA Export, NARF, Export Central, and Amazon Global Logistics simplify listing management, shipping, customs, and taxes. Tools like Build International Listings and Product Guidance help identify demand and expand listings faster.
• Lower fulfillment and shipping costs: Amazon’s Buy Shipping offers pre-negotiated rates, 31% cheaper than standard ground shipping from carriers like UPS and FedEx. With FBA, Amazon handles storage, packaging, shipping, customer service, and returns, reducing operational overhead.
• Data-driven selling: Amazon provides real-time insights and analytics in Seller Central, helping sellers decide what to sell and where, based on buyer trends and product demand.

How KeaBabies Built a Global Brand with Amazon FBA

Singapore-based founders Jane and Ivan, co-founders of KeaBabies, turned their baby and maternity brand into a global success story using Amazon’s cross-border programs.

They began selling on Amazon.com and Amazon Singapore, and within a year, expanded into Europe through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). With Amazon handling logistics, they scaled operations quickly, growing from 400 units per day to over 4,500 units per day, and reaching $30 million in annual sales by 2021.

One of their proudest moments? Seeing Nicki Minaj using their baby wrap—a powerful moment of recognition that helped put their brand on the map.

Beyond sales, KeaBabies built a community of 3.6 million parents around the world, all while avoiding the traditional risks of global expansion—thanks to Amazon’s infrastructure, built-in customer base, and global sales events like Prime Day (where they made $500,000 in two days).

How to Start Selling Cross-Border on Amazon (Step-by-Step)

Here’s a simplified step-by-step overview:

1. Register for Amazon Global Selling

Create a seller account for your target marketplace (e.g., Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk). You can manage multiple accounts using a single login via Amazon’s Global Account Linking.

2. Choose what to sell

Select products with international demand. Focus on:

• Lightweight or durable items (for easier shipping)
• Products with high margin (to offset cross-border fees)
• Items that meet local regulations in your target country

Use tools like Product Opportunity Explorer to identify demand by region.

3. List your products internationally

You can create listings manually or use Build International Listings to copy listings across marketplaces.
 Make sure to:

• Convert currency
• Adjust for local taxes and units (e.g., cm vs. inches)
• Translate listings if needed (Amazon offers tools for this)

4. Take care of tax and compliance

Each country has different rules. You may need:

• VAT registration (for EU/UK)
• Goods and services tax (GST) details (for Australia/Singapore)
• Customs documentation for export/import

Amazon has services like VAT Services on Amazon (VSA) to help manage this.

5.  Choose a Fulfillment Method

You can either use FBA or go with FBM. For cross-border, FBA Export, NARF and SEND simplify shipping and delivery without needing local warehousing.

What It Really Costs to Sell Internationally on Amazon

Amazon makes global selling simple. But this ease comes at a cost. Each layer of convenience—be it faster shipping, storage abroad, or currency conversion—takes a cut from the seller’s margin.

Here is a breakdown of the key cost elements that cross-border sellers typically face:

* Assuming the product’s selling price to be $200

Let’s walk through the actual costs and earnings if you are based in Singapore and send your product to Amazon’s US FBA warehouse to sell to American customers.

Say your product costs you $100 to produce. You list it for $200 on Amazon US, using FBA for fulfillment and cross-border reach. Here’s how your revenue gets trimmed once you plug into Amazon’s cross-border system:

Your net profit on each unit sold would be $57.50, giving you a margin of 28.75%.

Funding Your Cross-Border Expansion

Even when demand is strong, sellers struggle to keep up because selling internationally ties up a lot of cash. You pay for inventory, shipping, taxes, and marketplace fees long before the money from sales comes in.

Between Amazon’s seller payout cycles and cross-border delivery timelines, it takes up to three or four weeks for sellers to actually receive their money. That gap between spending and earning creates a working capital crunch, especially when trying to meet demand or enter new markets.

As an approved Amazon Lending Partner in 16 markets, CrediLinq helps sellers bridge this working capital gap, without taking equity, locking them in, or overcomplicating funding.

With credit limits up to $2 million, multi-currency support, and repayment terms that match your cash flow—not your bank’s—CrediLinq helps you scale with control, not stress.

• Platform-based underwriting: CrediLinq connects directly with Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, eBay, Lazada, Shopee, and other marketplaces to assess your real-time sales performance. This means your local store’s success helps you unlock a credit line of up to $2 million to expand globally—no financial statements or credit history required.
• Fast approvals, minimal paperwork: No balance sheets or lengthy paperwork – the process is fully digital. Approvals are processed in as little as 1 business day, enabling you to act quickly on inventory needs or sales opportunities.
• Multi-purpose credit line: Use the funds for new launches, restocking inventory, ad spend, or cross-marketplace expansion. CrediLinq imposes no restrictions on fund usage.
• Cross-border currency support: Select your preferred disbursement currency—USD, GBP, or SGD—to align with your operational requirements. Perfect for sellers managing cash flows across multiple countries.
• Pay only for what you use: You are charged a flat service fee as low as 1.5% per month or a simple fixed annual percentage rate (APR) of 18% on the amount you draw. If you use nothing, you pay nothing.
• Transparent, all-in pricing: There are no hidden platform fees, processing charges, or surprise penalties. Just one transparent service fee—what you see is what you pay.
• Flexible repayment options: Choose repayment timelines that work for your business—3-6 months*. You can repay early, in full, or through biweekly installments—no fixed monthly schedule, no early repayment penalty and no bullet repayment at the end. Customized solutions are available upon request. Loan tenors can extend up to 12 months on a case-by-case basis.
• No equity dilution: This is pure working capital. You do not give up ownership or control, and CrediLinq does not take a stake in your business.

Best Practices to Succeed Globally

Once your Amazon working capital needs are met, here are a few best practices to help you make the most of Amazon’s cross-border programs:

• Monitor reviews and respond in native languages: Track ratings, reviews, and customer queries in each marketplace. Use Amazon’s Customer Engagement tools or hire local support to maintain responsiveness and build trust with new buyers.
• Price competitively with local market dynamics: Research competitor pricing in local currencies and factor in Amazon’s fees, taxes, and shipping costs. Use Automate Pricing or pricing dashboards to stay competitive without hurting your margins.
• Plan inventory ahead for high-demand periods: Prepare early for major sales like Prime Day, Singles’ Day, and Black Friday. Use funding to stock up and ship in advance to avoid last-minute air freight costs and missed revenue.
• Understand region-specific product regulations: Check for packaging, safety, or category-specific compliance in each target country. Amazon’s Product Compliance Portal helps confirm labeling or testing requirements before you list.
• Leverage Amazon’s marketing tools and deals: Use sponsored products, lightning deals, and coupons to gain visibility, especially when launching in a new region with few reviews. Tailor promotions to each local calendar and buyer behavior.
• Track country-level profitability: Use Amazon’s fee preview tools and seller dashboards to evaluate profit margins by region. Account for exchange rates, fees, and costs to decide which markets are truly worth scaling.

Ready to Go Global?

Selling cross-border through Amazon opens up a world of opportunity. With access to new markets, built-in customer trust, and powerful fulfillment programs like FBA Export and NARF, sellers can scale faster than ever, without setting up in every country.

But while the benefits are real, listing internationally means managing logistics, currency conversions, compliance requirements, and delayed payouts, which demands upfront investment. Without sufficient working capital, even the most promising global expansion plan stalls.

As an approved Amazon Lending Partner in 16 markets, CrediLinq offers a flexible credit line that moves at the speed of e-commerce. From inventory and freight to ads and marketplace launches, you get capital when and where you need it, without giving up equity or navigating complex paperwork.

If you are ready to turn your local success into global growth, CrediLinq gives you capital to grow on your terms.

Check Your Eligibility

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I start cross-border e-commerce?

To start cross-border e-commerce, register for Amazon Global Selling, select eligible products, set up international listings, and choose a fulfillment method like FBA or FBM. You’ll also need to ensure compliance with each country’s tax and import regulations before shipping your products internationally.

2. What are the risks of cross-border e-commerce?

Cross-border e-commerce comes with challenges such as customs delays, currency exchange losses, compliance with local laws, and high fulfillment costs. Sellers also face lengthy payout cycles and struggle to manage customer service across multiple languages and time zones.

3. What documents are needed to register for Amazon Global Selling?

Typically, you will need a valid government-issued ID, tax registration details (such as GST or VAT), a business address, a credit card for account verification, and a bank account that can receive international payments from Amazon.

4. Which Amazon marketplaces are best for cross-border selling?

Some of the most seller-friendly Amazon marketplaces for cross-border sales include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Germany, due to their high buyer volume, robust logistics, and support for international fulfillment programs.

5. How can Amazon help me sell internationally?

Amazon supports international sales through programs such as FBA Export, NARF, and Global Selling, which assist with warehousing, logistics, customer service, and compliance. These tools reduce the operational burden and make global expansion more manageable.

6. How can funding support my cross-border e-commerce aspirations?

Cross-border selling requires upfront investments in inventory, freight, and compliance, all of which occur long before payout. With flexible working capital solutions like CrediLinq, sellers can bridge cash flow gaps, restock on time, and confidently expand into new Amazon marketplaces without stalling operations.