Amazon organizes its own ocean freight from China to the United States

American online giant Amazon has taken control of another part of its logistics chain: it now also handles ocean freights from China to the United States.

Already shipped 150 containers

Amazon does not own any ships, but it has become an international shipping agent and has already shipped more than 150 containers from China to the United States, filled with Chinese manufacturers’ products sold on Amazon’s web shop, since October 2016. Starting in January 2017, Amazon’s Chinese subsidiary, Beijing Century Joyo Courier Service, listed prices for logistical services like sorting, labeling and freighting. 

For several years, Amazon has been trying to gain control of its own logistics, prying tasks away from partners like FedEx and UPS. The company’s goal is to ship all of its own orders and even handle third party’s shipping as well. To that end, it intends to lease 40 cargo planes and it has even bought several trucks, because this is the only way to make sure that it can consistently keep up with its growing number of orders, the company said.