Ecommerce News

Walmart and Wing Launch Drone Delivery Across Greater Orlando

By JiuFang Logistics
July 30, 2026

Service Starts at Two Orlando-Area Stores

The service began on July 29 at two Walmart locations, including the Supercenter at 1700 South Orange Blossom Trail in Apopka. Wing said three additional Central Florida stores are expected to begin operating in the coming weeks.

Eligibility depends on a customer’s exact address. Shoppers generally need to live within four or five miles of a participating store and can check availability through the Walmart or Wing app. Drone delivery remains optional and is limited to items that meet the aircraft’s operating requirements.

How Walmart Drone Delivery Works

A Walmart employee prepares the order and attaches the package to a tether beneath the aircraft. The autonomous drone calculates its route, flies to the delivery address and hovers about 20 feet above the ground while lowering the order. It does not land at the customer’s home.

Wing positioned 18 drones at its Apopka hub for launch day and said all could operate at the same time if demand required it. The aircraft can travel at up to 60 mph. Wing suspends service when weather exceeds operating limits, an important constraint during Florida storms.

What China-Based Walmart Sellers Should Know

The launch shows Walmart expanding fast local delivery for selected store inventory. China-based marketplace sellers should not assume that their listings automatically qualify. Product availability, local stock, package size, customer address and Walmart’s fulfillment controls determine whether drone delivery appears as an option.

The service does not alter China-to-US customs procedures, international freight rates or Walmart marketplace inbound requirements. Sellers using US inventory should monitor whether participating products gain faster delivery promises in eligible ZIP codes, but international replenishment planning remains a separate process.

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Amazon Plans $1 Billion New York Hub and Texas Distribution Center

By JiuFang Logistics
July 30, 2026

New York Project Reaches 4 Million Square Feet

Amazon told Supply Chain Dive that it is in the early planning stages for a 4 million-square-foot operations facility in Holbrook, New York. The company expects to invest $1 billion in the site and create approximately 1,000 full-time jobs.

The Long Island facility is expected to use advanced robotics and other technology. Amazon has not publicly provided an opening date or detailed the exact mix of inventory and fulfillment functions the site will handle.

Texas Distribution Center Targets Faster Delivery

In Terrell, Texas, Amazon is planning a roughly 1.2 million-square-foot regional distribution center. A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation lists an estimated project cost of $98 million.

Construction is scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026, with completion expected in August 2027. Amazon said the facility is intended to improve customer delivery speeds and expand product selection. The company is also preparing a separate robotics-equipped sorting warehouse in Georgetown, Texas, as it continues to adjust its US operations footprint.

What China-Based Amazon Sellers Should Watch

Additional US distribution capacity can support shorter domestic inventory transfers and final delivery routes, but Amazon has not said that these projects will create new FBA storage allocations for third-party sellers. China-based sellers should wait for actual changes in Seller Central before adjusting inbound plans.

Sellers should continue to monitor assigned fulfillment destinations, appointment availability, receiving times and inventory placement charges. The projects do not change China-to-US freight rates, customs requirements or FBA shipment preparation rules. Their immediate effect is on Amazon’s US network rather than the international leg that moves seller inventory from China.

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eBay Sellers Face New USPS Ground Advantage Rate Increase

By JiuFang Logistics
July 29, 2026

USPS Raises Selected eBay Label Rates

Ground Advantage rates for packages weighing from 3 to 5 pounds increased by $0.10 across shipping zones 1 through 8, according to eBay’s seller announcement. eBay said this was the only USPS rate update taking effect at that time.

The marketplace said the revised prices would appear automatically in its shipping calculator. The change applies to the commercial rates available through eBay Labels, not every USPS service or package weight.

The adjustment followed broader USPS price changes that took effect on July 12. EcommerceBytes reported that USPS does not publicly announce every rate change under USPS Connect eCommerce, the program through which marketplaces and postage providers can offer discounted shipping prices.

Seller Pricing Requires Attention

A 10-cent increase is small on one order but can become material across high parcel volumes. Sellers using calculated shipping should see the new rate applied to eligible labels. Merchants offering free or flat-rate shipping may need to review their margins because the added carrier cost is absorbed by the seller unless listing prices or shipping charges are changed.

Package weight remains important. The update specifically covers shipments in the 3-to-5-pound range, so sellers should confirm packed dimensions and weight before changing prices across an entire catalog.

What China-Based eBay Sellers Should Do

China-based eBay sellers that store inventory in US warehouses and purchase USPS labels for domestic delivery should identify listings commonly shipped at 3 to 5 pounds. They can then compare the revised label cost with product margins, free-shipping allowances and alternative carrier services.

This update does not change China-to-US freight rates, US customs requirements or import duties. It affects the domestic parcel leg after inventory is already inside the United States. Sellers should therefore keep international transportation and US last-mile costs separate when calculating landed cost and marketplace pricing.

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UPS Cuts 2 Million Daily Amazon Packages and Raises 2026 Outlook

By JiuFang Logistics
July 29, 2026

UPS Completes Amazon Volume Reduction

The planned volume reduction marks a significant change in the relationship between one of the largest US parcel carriers and the country’s largest online retailer. Amazon now represents about 9% of UPS business, according to reporting on the carrier’s July 28 results. At the pandemic-era peak, Amazon generated more than 13% of UPS revenue.

UPS has characterized the removed packages as lower-yield volume. Amazon has built substantial in-house delivery capacity and is particularly strong in lightweight, short-distance urban deliveries. UPS is placing greater emphasis on business-to-business shipments, healthcare logistics and other time-sensitive services that make broader use of its network.

Revenue Forecast Moves Higher

UPS reported second-quarter revenue of $22.8 billion, an increase of 7.6% from the same period a year earlier. It raised its expected full-year 2026 revenue to approximately $91.2 billion, up from its previous forecast of $89.7 billion.

The results suggest that the carrier is prioritizing revenue quality over parcel count. For the wider ecommerce market, the shift also shows how major retailers’ delivery networks and national parcel carriers continue to divide US last-mile volume.

What China-Based Amazon Sellers Should Watch

China-based Amazon sellers should monitor the carrier shown in customer tracking, delivery promises by region and any changes in transit performance during peak periods. A different mix of Amazon Logistics, UPS and other carriers can affect the final domestic leg after an order is placed.

The UPS announcement does not by itself change China-to-US customs procedures, international freight rates or Amazon FBA inbound requirements. Sellers shipping inventory from China to US fulfillment centers should continue to plan around Amazon appointment rules, inventory receiving times and their own ocean or air freight schedules. The immediate change concerns US parcel delivery capacity rather than the international movement of FBA inventory.

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eBay International Shipping Reaches UK Sellers in August

By JiuFang Logistics
July 28, 2026

UK Rollout Starts in August

eBay will begin enrolling eligible UK sellers in eBay International Shipping in phases from August 2026. The service replaces the Global Shipping Programme for enrolled listings and expands seller access from 105 countries to more than 195 countries and territories.

ChannelX reported the expansion on July 22, following earlier launches in the United States and Canada. The programme is open to private and business sellers, and eBay says international selling fees will be waived for orders shipped through the service.

How eBay International Shipping Works

Participating sellers send sold items to eBay’s UK hub. eBay then manages customs documentation, duty and tax calculations, international delivery, carrier coordination, end-to-end tracking and post-sale support.

Buyers pay the international shipping charge and applicable import fees at checkout. Once an item is scanned at the hub, eBay says the seller’s payout is protected. eBay also handles international returns and lost or damaged item claims. Eligible listings will move to the service automatically when a seller’s account is enrolled.

Planning China-to-UK Inventory

The programme simplifies delivery from the UK hub to overseas buyers, but it does not cover upstream inventory movement from China to the United Kingdom. China-based suppliers and UK eBay businesses must still arrange production, freight, customs clearance and delivery into UK inventory before customer orders can be sent to the hub.

Importers should separate the two transport stages when calculating landed cost and stock lead times. They should also wait for eBay’s enrolment confirmation and check product and destination eligibility before changing shipping settings or inventory plans.

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Amazon Florida Fulfillment Center Closure Changes FBA Inbound Planning

By JiuFang Logistics
July 22, 2026

Port St. Lucie Closure

Amazon will temporarily close its distribution facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to renovate the site, Supply Chain Dive reported on July 20. Operations are scheduled to stop on September 17.

The closure will affect 494 employees, according to a July 15 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice. Separations are scheduled for September 17 or December 17. Amazon said employees who accept internal transfers before separation will not be laid off.

Conversion to Fulfillment Operations

Amazon plans to convert the existing distribution site into a sortable fulfillment center. In that format, employees pick, pack and ship customer orders. The change is part of Amazon’s continuing adjustment of its U.S. warehouse network, which includes closing some sites while renovating or building others.

Amazon is also pursuing more automated capacity elsewhere, including a planned robotics-equipped sorting warehouse in Texas, according to Supply Chain Dive.

Impact on the Amazon FBA Inbound Process

The report does not state that the Port St. Lucie site is an FBA receiving center. Its scheduled shutdown is still a useful reminder that Amazon’s network can change at the facility level while sellers are moving inventory from China to the United States.

For the Amazon FBA inbound process, a shipment is not complete when it leaves China. The seller also needs the current shipment destination, appointment or carrier requirements, customs status and receiving timeline to remain aligned with Amazon’s instructions.

Seller Planning Actions

Before dispatching a time-sensitive shipment, China sellers should recheck the active shipment plan in Seller Central, confirm the assigned fulfillment center and allow time for U.S. inland delivery and receiving. If Amazon changes a destination, the seller should update the logistics plan instead of sending cartons to an outdated address.

For holiday or launch inventory, keeping a small timing buffer and tracking the check-in date helps separate a transit delay from an Amazon receiving delay.

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Fuel Surcharges Raise the Cost of Amazon FBA Inbound Delivery

By JiuFang Logistics
July 22, 2026

U.S. Parcel Costs Hit a Record

U.S. ground parcel costs remained elevated in the second quarter, Supply Chain Dive reported on July 20. The TD Cowen/AFS Ground Parcel Freight Index reached 42.4% above its January 2018 baseline, an increase of 6.9% year over year.

The index is expected to moderate to 38.7% above the baseline in the third quarter. Even at that level, the report said 2026 remains on track to record the highest cost per package in the index’s history.

Fuel Surcharge Pressure

The average net fuel surcharge per package increased 40% year over year in the second quarter. At diesel prices of $4.50 per gallon, FedEx and UPS ground fuel surcharges were running at roughly 24.5% to 25%, compared with 22.5% a year earlier.

Supply Chain Dive also reported that discounts for some FedEx and UPS shippers declined slightly in the quarter. Large and small customers may therefore receive different pricing outcomes.

Connection to the Amazon FBA Inbound Process

For China sellers, inbound shipping cost does not end at the U.S. port. After international freight and customs clearance, cartons still need inland or parcel delivery to the Amazon-assigned fulfillment center. Fuel surcharges and billed weight can change that final leg’s cost.

This matters when comparing a low ocean or air freight quote. The Amazon FBA inbound process should be priced from the China pickup point through delivery and receiving, including destination handling, domestic transport and any carrier surcharge.

Cost Planning for China Sellers

Sellers should request an all-in quote, confirm whether fuel is included and check the billed-weight rules before booking. A shipment split between fulfillment centers may also create additional domestic delivery charges.

The index report noted that Amazon Shipping and other Amazon Supply Chain Services could pressure parcel pricing over time. That potential competition does not remove the need to verify service coverage, delivery time and Amazon receiving requirements for each shipment.

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DHL Adds Transpacific Air Capacity for Amazon FBA Shipping

By JiuFang Logistics
July 21, 2026

New Transpacific Air Service

DHL Global Forwarding has expanded its transpacific air network with a dedicated service from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to its Cincinnati hub. Supply Chain Dive reported the development on July 15, within DHL’s broader effort to add controlled capacity between Asian manufacturing centers and the United States.

The route started operating on July 1. It complements DHL flights from Hanoi and Taipei to U.S. gateways including Chicago, widening the available network for time-sensitive cargo moving from Asia.

Schedule and Capacity

The Bangkok-Cincinnati service operates three times a week with a Boeing 777 freighter. Each flight provides 100 metric tons of cargo capacity. DHL said the dedicated operation is intended to give shippers more stable schedules and more predictable costs.

The aircraft can handle oversized and high-value shipments as well as standard air cargo. Technology products are a major source of current demand from Southeast Asia, according to DHL.

Impact on Amazon FBA Shipping

For Amazon FBA sellers, the added capacity creates another option for urgent replenishment into the United States when ocean transit is too slow. It may be useful for compact, high-value inventory, launch stock or products at risk of going out of stock.

The service does not depart from mainland China. China-based sellers would need inventory produced in Southeast Asia or a compliant regional consolidation plan before using the Bangkok gateway. Total cost should include origin trucking, export handling, U.S. customs clearance and delivery to the assigned Amazon fulfillment center.

Planning Priorities

Air capacity remains under pressure. Supply Chain Dive cited Xeneta data showing Asia-Pacific-to-North America demand rose 7% year over year in June, while transpacific spot rates jumped more than 40% from late February to the final week of June.

FBA sellers should compare the full landed cost of air freight against the sales and ranking risk of an inventory gap. Booking space before stock reaches a critical level leaves more room to choose between air, ocean and split-shipment strategies.

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Transpacific Ocean Rates Ease for Amazon FBA Shipping

By JiuFang Logistics
July 21, 2026

Shanghai-US Rates Turn Lower

Transpacific container spot rates showed signs of easing in mid-July after climbing through the early peak season. The Loadstar reported on July 17 that Drewry’s Shanghai-Los Angeles rate fell 3% week over week to $6,272 per 40-foot container.

The Shanghai-New York rate was unchanged at $7,879 per 40-foot container. The mixed movement suggests the market is softening, but not uniformly across U.S. coasts.

More Transpacific Capacity

Xeneta data cited by The Loadstar showed offered capacity to the U.S. West Coast increased 6.5% from the previous week. Capacity to the U.S. East Coast rose 15.4%.

Analysts linked the rate change to carriers adding space while front-loaded demand began to ease. Importers had moved orders earlier to manage expected third-quarter fuel adjustments and wider supply chain disruption. That brought peak-season pressure forward into May rather than July.

Amazon FBA Shipping Costs

For sellers moving inventory from China to Amazon FBA warehouses, a weekly decline can improve new booking quotes, but it does not mean low-cost shipping has returned. Xeneta said Far East-to-U.S. West Coast spot rates were still 252% above their late-February level.

FBA shipping comparisons should use the complete landed cost: ocean freight, origin charges, destination handling, customs clearance, inland delivery and Amazon receiving deadlines. Sellers also need to match the port route with the fulfillment center destination before selecting a lower headline rate.

Near-Term Outlook

A sharp fall is not guaranteed. Drewry counted nine blank sailings scheduled for the following transpacific week, giving carriers a way to limit available space. U.S. tariff policy could also change booking demand quickly.

Amazon FBA sellers should treat the current decline as a booking window rather than a confirmed long-term trend. Comparing West Coast and East Coast options, checking sailing reliability and allowing time for FBA receiving remain central to inventory planning.

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AI Refund Fraud Adds Risk to FBA Fee Calculations

By JiuFang Logistics
July 20, 2026

Returns Already Carry High Costs

U.S. retailers processed approximately $849.9 billion in merchandise returns in 2025, and about 9% were fraudulent, Practical Ecommerce reported July 16, citing the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns.

E-commerce recorded a 19.3% overall return rate, substantially higher than physical retail.

AI Expands Synthetic Evidence

Generative AI can create convincing photographs of cracked, stained or incomplete products. It can also fabricate damaged packaging, customer-service messages, carrier records and delivery screenshots used to support false refund claims.

The risk is higher when merchants approve low-value refunds remotely because return shipping and inspection would cost more than the product.

AI-Specific Losses Remain Unclear

The 9% fraud figure covers return fraud overall. Practical Ecommerce said there is no credible U.S. estimate for the share specifically assisted by AI, so sellers should not treat all fraudulent returns as AI-generated.

Manual review, extra photo angles and mandatory returns can reduce risk, but each control also adds support, shipping and inspection expense.

Add Expected Return Loss

FBA profitability models should include expected return cost per sale: return probability multiplied by the average net loss per return. The net loss can include non-resellable inventory, applicable Amazon return charges, removal or disposal costs and unrecovered shipping.

China-based sellers should calculate this by SKU and category. A low-margin product with a high return rate can become unprofitable even when its standard FBA fulfillment fee remains unchanged.

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