Shipping from Alibaba to Amazon FBA in Ireland is the standard workflow for Irish private label sellers building their own brand on amazon.ie. The process is straightforward once you understand the freight options, EU customs requirements, and how Irish import VAT works.
Step 1 — Find and vet a supplier on Alibaba
Search for your product on Alibaba.com and contact 5–10 suppliers. Filter for Verified Supplier status and use Trade Assurance for all payments — this gives you protection if the supplier ships goods that don't match the agreed specification.
Send a short inquiry asking about MOQ (minimum order quantity), unit price at 100, 250, and 500 units, lead time, and whether they can produce custom packaging with your brand.
Step 2 — Order samples before committing
Always order samples from your top 2–3 shortlisted suppliers before placing a bulk order. Sample costs are typically €20–€60 per item plus international shipping (DHL Express from China to Ireland is usually €30–€60). Compare the samples against each other and against competing products on amazon.ie — your product needs to be at least as good as what is already selling.
Step 3 — Place your bulk order
Once you have chosen a supplier, negotiate:
- Unit price — push for better pricing at higher quantities
- Packaging — custom boxes, inserts, or labels with your brand
- Payment terms — standard is 30% deposit on order, 70% before shipment
- Lead time — typically 20–35 days for production
Always pay through Trade Assurance. Paying outside Alibaba's system removes your buyer protection.
Step 4 — Choose your shipping method
Sea freight (LCL or FCL) The cheapest option per unit for large orders. Transit time from China to Ireland is typically 25–35 days via a port such as Dublin or Cork. A freight forwarder handles the booking, customs clearance, and delivery. Cost-effective for orders over 300–400 units.
Air freight Faster (5–10 days) but significantly more expensive — typically €5–€12 per kg. Best for initial test orders, time-sensitive restocks, or high-value low-weight products where the speed justifies the cost.
Amazon partnered carrier For smaller shipments, Amazon offers discounted carrier rates through Seller Central. Available when creating your shipment plan — compare Amazon's rate against courier quotes before deciding.
Step 5 — Handle EU customs and Irish import taxes
All goods imported into Ireland from China are subject to:
Customs duty — rate depends on the product's HS code (commodity classification). Most consumer goods attract duty of 0–12%. Your freight forwarder will classify the goods and calculate the applicable rate.
Irish import VAT at 23% — applied to the customs value (product cost + freight + insurance + duty) on arrival in Ireland or another EU entry point. This is the same 23% VAT rate that applies domestically, collected at the border.
If you are VAT-registered with Revenue, the import VAT is fully reclaimable on your VAT return — it is not a permanent cost. If you are not yet VAT-registered (turnover below €40,000), it is a real upfront cost you need to include in your landed cost calculation.
Your freight forwarder handles the customs declaration and will need:
- A commercial invoice from your Alibaba supplier (showing product description, quantity, and unit price in USD or EUR)
- Your EORI number (Economic Operator Registration and Identification — register free at Revenue.ie if you don't have one)
- The HS code for your product
Step 6 — Send stock to an Amazon EU fulfilment centre
Irish sellers on amazon.ie ship to Amazon EU fulfilment centres — not UK fulfilment centres. Amazon typically assigns a centre in Germany, France, Poland, or Spain depending on available capacity. Your freight forwarder can deliver directly to the Amazon fulfilment centre address, or you can receive the goods in Ireland first and prep them yourself or via a prep centre before forwarding to Amazon.
Units must be FNSKU-labelled before Amazon will accept them. Generate FNSKU labels in Seller Central and apply them to each unit — over the manufacturer's barcode — before shipping.
Total landed cost calculation for Irish sellers
Example: 200 units sourced at €4.00 each from Alibaba
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Product cost (200 × €4.00) | €800 |
| Sea freight (China to EU) | €200 |
| Customs duty (5% of €800) | €40 |
| Import VAT at 23% (reclaimable) | €239 |
| FNSKU labelling (if outsourced) | €40 |
| Total landed cost | €1,080 excl. reclaimable VAT |
| Per unit landed cost | €5.40 |
This landed cost is what you use as your COGS in the profit calculator to determine whether the selling price on amazon.ie leaves a viable margin after Amazon's fees and advertising.