Sourcing glossary
Third-party logistics (3PL)
Also known as: 3PL, fulfillment center, fulfillment warehouse, 3PL 물류
An outside company that handles logistics for a seller, typically warehousing, order picking and packing, shipping and returns, and sometimes freight and customs coordination.
Online sellers importing from China use 3PLs to store bulk shipments and fulfill orders from their own store or several marketplaces, instead of relying only on Amazon FBA. Some 3PLs also act as prep centers or offer China-side consolidation, while dropshipping agents in China provide a similar service for shipping each order directly from China.
Check receiving fees, storage pricing, integrations with your sales channels, and how inventory counts and damage are reported before you commit stock. See China dropshipping agent vs AliExpress.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Shipping
Shipping from China to Amazon FBA: Rules, Options and Pitfalls
How to ship inventory from China into Amazon FBA in the US: carton and pallet limits, labels, importer of record, DDP forwarders, AGL and prep centers.
Updated 2026-09-20 · 6 min read
Compliance
How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China
A step-by-step landed cost formula for China imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, fees and delivery, with why US and EU/UK duty bases differ.
Updated 2026-09-17 · 6 min read
Part of Amazon FBA & Dropshipping.