Amazon has expanded Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) to sellers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, bringing its bulk inventory storage and automated FBA replenishment service to more European sellers.
But what exactly is AWD, and how is it different from FBA?
What is Amazon AWD?
Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) is Amazon’s bulk storage and distribution service. Think of it as an Amazon-operated warehouse that sits before FBA in your supply chain.
Instead of sending all of your inventory directly to FBA fulfillment centers, you can send larger quantities to AWD. Amazon stores the inventory there and automatically moves units into FBA as they are needed.
The basic flow looks like this:
Manufacturer / Supplier → AWD → FBA → Customer
This can be especially useful for sellers importing larger quantities or maintaining several months of inventory.
AWD vs. FBA: What’s the Difference?
The two services serve different purposes.
AWD is primarily for bulk storage and distribution. Inventory can remain there until it is needed.
FBA is primarily for fulfillment. Inventory stored at FBA is positioned so Amazon can pick, pack, and ship individual customer orders quickly.
AWD can automatically monitor FBA inventory levels and replenish FBA when additional units are needed. Sellers can also choose to manage replenishment manually.
This means sellers can keep a larger inventory reserve with Amazon without necessarily placing everything directly into the FBA fulfillment network.
Why Would Sellers Use AWD?
One of the biggest benefits is additional storage capacity. Inventory stored in AWD doesn’t use the same FBA capacity, while Amazon’s auto-replenishment can help maintain appropriate inventory levels inside FBA.
AWD can also provide:
- Lower-cost storage for bulk and long-term inventory
- Automatic replenishment into FBA
- More predictable storage costs
- No seasonal storage surcharge
- Reduced risk of FBA stockouts
- Distribution to channels outside Amazon
Amazon has been expanding AWD beyond simply feeding FBA. In the U.S., for example, AWD inventory can also be distributed to non-Amazon channels, including Walmart Fulfillment Services.
In other words, Amazon is gradually positioning AWD as part of a broader multichannel supply chain, rather than just another FBA feature.
AWD Is Now Expanding Across Europe
According to Amazon’s latest announcement, AWD is now available to sellers across:
United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
The expansion gives European sellers another option for keeping bulk inventory within Amazon’s logistics network while letting Amazon handle replenishment into FBA.
Amazon is also offering an introductory incentive: AWD storage fees for eligible inventory stored in European AWD distribution centers will be waived from October 1 through December 31, 2026, subject to Amazon’s terms and eligibility requirements.
