Global Amazon Selling: Navigate Compliance & Logistics
Global eCommerce is entering a new phase of rapid expansion. Amazon sellers are cross-border selling to fulfill consumer demand in emerging countries like the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. These markets present large opportunities with millions of new customers; however, there are also challenges related to logistics, customs, compliance, taxes, and fulfillment.Â
For international success, sellers will have to understand the regulations of each region and customize a balanced supply chain strategy for cost, speed, and compliance. This thorough guide explains everything sellers need to understand concerning expansion to new Amazon markets, enabling trouble-free cross-border selling and unrestricted global development.
Understanding Cross-Border Compliance Requirements
The continued and aggressive territorial expansion of Amazon presents new avenues for global vendors to take advantage of. For instance, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as well as Singapore, are experiencing rapid developmental growth. On the other hand, India and Southeast Asia are becoming very active regions for online retail because of:
Digital adoption
Rising purchasing power of the middle class
Enhanced payment systems
Government initiatives to digitze trade
Trust in global brands is increasing
For Amazon sellers, this is great, as it opens up millions of potential new customers, however, it also comes at the detriment of having to process the logistic, and regulatory frameworks of each new country.
1. The Challenge of Comprehending Cross-Border Commerce
Exemplifying the backbone of cross-border selling is Amazon’s Compliance. You cannot cross sell without obeying the local regulations on imports, product standards, applicable taxes, and documents to cross borders.
Let’s now break it down, per region.
A. The Middle East (Amazon UAE & Amazon Saudi Arabia)
The Middle East is one of the fastest growing Amazon regions, and it is also one usa.
Key Countries
UAE (Amazon.ae)
Saudi Arabia (Amazon.sa)
1. Import Regulations
Sellers must comply with:
GCC customs laws
HS Code classification
Country of origin labeling
Prohibited & restricted products lists
Common restricted categories include:
Supplements
Electronics
Cosmetics
Herbal products
Toys with batteries
2. Required Documentation
Cross-border shipments require:
Commercial invoice
Packing list
Certificate of origin
HS Codes
Importer of Record (IOR) details
Product compliance certificates (as applicable)
Saudi Arabia may require:
SABER certification
SFDA clearance for food/supplements
Energy efficiency labels for electronics
3. Taxation
UAE VAT: 5%
Saudi VAT: 15%
Both require VAT registration for certain sellers.
Amazon may collect VAT on your behalf depending on the business model.
4. Fulfillment Options
– FBA Middle East (Amazon AE + SA unified fulfillment network)
– FBM via 3PL
– Cross-border shipping from US/UK/China
B.India(Amazon.in)
India is one of the world’s largest eCommerce markets but also one of the most regulated.
Import Limitations
India has mandatory restrictions on:
Electronics
Toys
Cosmetics
Medical devices
Food and supplements
Many categories require:
BIS certification
FSSAI Approval
Legal Metrology registration
E-waste compliance
E-Waste compliance
Documentation
To import into India, you need: (Import – Export Code)
IEC
GST registration
Commercial invoice
Bill of entry
Product compliance certificates
Taxation
India has a Goods and & Services Tax (GST) system:
Standard GST = 18%
Some items = 5% , 12% , 28% on others
Cross-border sellers needed to comply with:
GST registration
TCS (Tax Collected at Source) by Amazon
Monthly GST returns
Fulfillment
India fba restrictions to foreign sellers means many sellers will need to use:
Local distributors
Authorized importers
3PL warehouses
Amazon Easy ship / MFN
Amazon FBA India is available but requires local business presence.
C. Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines)
Amazon operates primarily in Singapore (Amazon.sg) but allows cross-border delivery across the entire region.
Import & Customs Regulations
Each country has its own rules.
Key concerns include:
Product labeling
Electrical safety markings
Food/drug approvals
Eco-packaging rules
Singapore is the most business-friendly with simple clearance procedures.
Taxation
Singapore GST: 9%
Malaysia SST: 10%
Indonesia VAT: 11%
Many countries now charge import GST/VAT at checkout through Amazon.
3. Fulfillment
Possible Options:
Amazon FBA Singapore
3PL regional hubs in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong
Direct cross-border shipping from China or the UAE
Local warehousing for last-mile fulfillment
2. Effective Global Logistics Strategy
To efficiently manage the logistics pertaining to multiple Amazon marketplaces, a high level of operational sophistication is required. The correct logistics approach means lower costs, faster deliveries, and better overall service.
Sellers need to focus on the following:
A. Determining the Most Optimal Fulfillment Model
1. FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Most Suitable For:
Quick deliveries
Eligibility to Amazon Prime
High conversion rates
No involvement in customer service
Issues:
Keeping inventory locally
Storage and fulfillment costs
Complex import compliance
2. FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant)
Most Suitable For:
Market testing
Areas with low-order volume
No upfront storage costs
Requires:
A personal warehouse or 3PL
Self-managed customer service support
3. Cross-Border Fulfilled (CBF)
Ship from home country only upon receiving an order.
Advantages:
No local inventory is required
More affordable to start
Disadvantages:
Long delivery times
High return rates
Limited Prime eligibility
B. Choosing The Most Optimal Shipping Routes
Your shipping policy must consider costs and available options to balance speed and regulatory compliance.
The most utilized global shipping lanes:
China to UAE and Saudi Arabia (most popular in the world).
India to the UAE and Singapore.
The US and the UK to Amazon in the UAE and Saudi Arabia by air.
China to Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Methods of Shipping:
Air freight is the most expensive and fastest.
Sea freight is the cheapest and slowest.
Express couriers are the most reliable.
Most sellers utilize:
Sea freight for large bulk FBA shipments.
Air freight for urgent and high demand replenishment.
C. Collaborating with Third-Party Logistics Providers
A solid 3 PL Partner is capable of:
Customs Clearance
Warehousing
Returns Processing
Labeling and repackaging
Amazon FBA Preparation Services
The Top 3PL Hubs for Amazon Sellers
Dubai in the UAE.
RY and JD in Saudi Arabia.
Singapore.
Hong Kong.
Delhi and Mumbai in India.
3. Compliance with Taxation and Other Legal Obligations
Every Amazon Marketplace has some local taxation policies that sellers have to abide by. Not following this will incur:
Removal of listings
Suspension of account
Monetary fines or sanctions.
This is what sellers have to deal with.
A. VAT or GST Registration
A lot of the new and emerging markets now demand:
A VAT Registration which is for the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
A GST Registration which is for India and Singapore.
Filling of periodic tax returns to the tax authorities.
Certain taxes are automatically collected by Amazon, Saudi VAT for example, if one is a foreign seller.
B. Import Duties & Tariffs
How much duty is charged depends on:
HS Code
Product category
Country of origin
Trade agreements
Sellers are required to compute:
Custom duty
VAT/GST
Amazon fees
Shipping fees
This makes sure that there is accurate pricing of the product.
C. Compliance With Amazon Policies
Amazon has strict policies around:
Product safety
Documentation
Packaging & labeling
Invoicing
Return policies
There are different policies for different regions, so do not assume there are the same policies for the whole world.
4. Product Compliance & Certification Requirements
Sellers are required to have the following certifications for the respective category:
Middle East
SABER (Saudi)
SFDA (health/supplements)
ESMA (electronics)
India
BIS (electronic devices)
FSSAI (foods & supplements)
Legal Metrology approvals
Southeast Asia
Singapore Safety Marks
Halal certifications (Malaysia/Indonesia)
Cosmetic & drug licensing
Sellers need to ensure compliance before sending their inventory, not after they have made the listing.
5. Crafting a Sustainable Global Expansion Strategy
Long-term growth is guaranteed with a well-planned cross-border strategy.
Most important things to focus on:
A. Market by Market Entry Strategy
Starting from:
UAE (easy compliance + high income)
Saudi Arabia (massive demand)
Singapore (access point to SEA)
India (a lot of potential but complicated, needs local presence)
B. Selling High Demand Products
Most high demand global categories are:
Beauty and personal care
Supplements
Home and kitchen
Fashion & apparel
Mobile accessories
Products for babies
Tools and home improvement
C. Competitive Pricing
Includes:
Duties
VAT
Shipping + product & warehouse costs
Fees
Cost for compliance
Costs for emerging markets are sensitive + price needs to consider all local expenses
D. Listing Localization
Localizing:
Product pages
Sell language
Region specific benefits
Local search terms
Compliance local wording
High conversion rates
E. Local Partnerships
Expanding with:
Local IOR partnerships
Local regions 3PL
Compliance contractor
Delivery network
Local distributors
Lower risk and faster expansion
Conclusion
Understanding conformity and cross-border logistics of compliance, the expanding on amazon emerging markets the Middle East, India and SEA is huge for sellers. These areas have millions of users and high digital use. Markets need a lot of consideration on product fulfillment, import regulation, taxation, product standards, and fulfillment strategy.
The ability to generate significant long-term revenue while also having the ability to transform your global operations is possible by investing in compliance, building strong logistical networks, mastering regional tax systems, and leveraging Amazon’s fulfillment infrastructure.
It is now a necessity for brands seeking global scale to cross-border sell. The sellers who take the opportunity to prepare now are the ones who will dominate the future eCommerce landscape.
