Amazon China confuses a lot of sellers, and the confusion is fair. The answer is not a clean yes or a clean no. Part of what Amazon once ran locally has gone, while other parts of the business are still active, and some of them matter directly to anyone building a cross-border e-commerce operation. Here is what closed, what still runs on Amazon.cn, and what it changes for your payouts.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon closed its Amazon.cn domestic marketplace for local shoppers in mid-2019, so that storefront no longer sells to shoppers inside the country.¹
- Amazon.cn now runs as a limited site giving shoppers access to the Amazon Global Store for imported goods.¹
- Amazon Global Selling still recruits overseas sellers, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing division, operates two separate local regions through local partners.³
- Taobao, Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo hold the bulk of the Chinese e-commerce market, with Alipay and WeChat Pay as default payment methods.
- Sellers in South Asia cannot receive Amazon payouts straight into a local bank account, so funds pass through a multi-currency collection account first, the same route used for how to withdraw Fiverr earnings and covered in our guide to the top freelancer bank accounts in the region.
If you sell on Amazon and want a clearer way to collect and hold your payouts before converting them, opening a World Account is a practical starting point.
Is Amazon Available in China Today?
Amazon still operates there, but not in the way most people assume. The Amazon.cn domestic marketplace that sold to local shoppers shut in mid-2019.¹ Amazon kept its cross-border store, its overseas seller programme and its cloud business, so the company never fully withdrew from the market.
What Closed in 2019 and What Did Not
The closure covered a specific slice of the business: third-party domestic sellers and local retail shipping from Amazon’s own inventory. Reuters reported that Amazon would stop supplying products from local inventory and stop serving domestic third-party sellers, while keeping its cross-border store and cloud operations running.¹
Amazon bought local bookseller Joyo.com in 2004 and later rebranded it as Amazon.cn, which is why the domain still exists. Visit it today and you get a stripped-back site whose main job is routing shoppers to imported stock rather than a full local marketplace. The New York Times framed the retreat as a decision to stop fighting entrenched rivals on their own ground.²
Why Local Marketplaces Took the Market
Shoppers there buy on platforms built for that market:
- Taobao and Tmall, both under Alibaba Group, covering consumer-to-consumer and brand storefronts
- JD.com, which runs its own logistics network and warehouses
- Pinduoduo, built around group-buying and price-led discovery
Three things worked against Amazon: weaker localization of the shopping experience, rivals with deeper domestic logistics infrastructure, and payment habits built on wallets like Alipay and WeChat Pay rather than card checkout.² Sellers who remit money for stock from that market feel the same wallet-first pattern on the supplier side.
Which Amazon Services Still Run in the Country?
Four things continue. Shoppers can reach the Amazon Global Store through Amazon.cn for imported goods, exporters can join Amazon Global Selling, and Amazon runs cloud services through two separate local AWS regions.¹ ³ Digital content and app availability have shifted since 2019, so treat those as the moving parts.
Amazon Global Store, Global Selling and Digital Services
AWS operates the Beijing Region through Beijing Sinnet Technology and the Ningxia Region through Ningxia Western Cloud Data Technology. Both sit apart from AWS globally because local partners hold the operating licences and run the infrastructure, which is why accounts and services differ from other regions.³
Reuters reported in 2019 that Kindle and the cross-border store would carry on.¹ The Kindle side has changed since then, so check Amazon’s own service pages rather than dated coverage before assuming a device, Amazon Prime benefits or the Amazon Appstore is available. Xiaomi founder Lei Jun is sometimes named alongside this story because Amazon’s early China retreat is often compared with the rise of homegrown competitors, though Amazon Global Store shoppers should still verify current availability directly.
Amazon China vs Amazon Global Store vs Amazon.com
|
Amazon.cn today |
Amazon Global Store |
Amazon.com |
| Who can buy |
Local shoppers, limited catalogue |
Local shoppers wanting imports |
Buyers in the US and eligible export markets |
| What is listed |
Access route to imported stock |
Selected overseas inventory |
Full US catalogue |
| Delivery |
Cross-border shipping |
Cross-border shipping, longer delivery time |
Domestic US, plus export-eligible items |
| Payment methods |
Local wallets |
Local wallets |
Cards and Amazon-supported methods |
| Seller relevance |
Not a selling channel |
Reached via Global Selling |
Main marketplace for exporters |
Fees checked in August 2026. Pricing, eligibility, and product features may change over time. Always confirm the latest information directly with the provider.
A few practical points on shipping in and out:
- Use a package forwarder (a third-party service that receives goods abroad and ships them on to you) when an item is not export-eligible to your address.
- Expect customs clearance, duties and prohibited goods checks to sit with the importer of record (the person or business legally responsible for the shipment at customs), not Amazon.
- Check order tracking on the relevant Amazon site for shipment status, and review each listing’s size and weight limits before you rely on cross-border shipping estimates.
- Confirm status on Amazon’s own service and investor pages instead of trusting older articles.
Payout infrastructure, not the local storefront, is what sellers actually need to plan around, which is one of the reasons sellers trust this provider.
How Cross-Border Sellers Receive Amazon Payouts Safely
Sellers based in South Asia cannot have Amazon payouts deposited straight into a local bank account. The standard route is to collect the payout into a multi-currency account held in the payout currency, then pay those funds out locally to a bank account or wallet when you choose to convert.
Stock location sets your timing. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) keeps inventory in Amazon’s centres or overseas warehouses, while Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) leaves shipping with you, and both settle on the same payout cycle.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Payout Path
- Register your Amazon Global Selling account with your business details.
- Complete the tax interview using the National Tax Number (NTN) issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
- Open a multi-currency collection account, such as a World Account, which can hold balances in foreign currency.
- Add those account details in Seller Central as your deposit method.
- Confirm the first payout lands before scaling ad spend or stock orders.
- Declare each inbound payment against the correct e-commerce export purpose code with your bank.
Marketplace payouts count as export proceeds, so repatriation (bringing that foreign currency back into the country) follows State Bank of Pakistan rules; confirm the specific requirements for your account with your bank or a qualified adviser. Plan for the gap between Amazon’s settlement cycle and your supplier or logistics bills, because funds usually stay held at Amazon while an account sits under review.
All foreign exchange transactions are subject to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) regulations under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). This article is general information and not tax advice; speak to a qualified tax adviser about your own position.
Checklist for Verifying an Amazon Message or Payment Request
- Check the full sender address, not the display name.
- Hover over any link and read the destination before clicking.
- Never change payout bank details from an email or chat instruction.
- Log in to Seller Central independently to confirm any notice.
- Turn on two-step verification (a second login check beyond your password) for the account.
- Report the message through Amazon’s official reporting channel.⁴
Genuine payout changes only happen inside Seller Central, never over email or messaging apps.⁴ Apply the same caution when sourcing products through 1688 and verify a supplier before you remit money for stock. Virtual cards suit platform-fee spend, and current fees are listed on the WorldFirst South Asia pricing details, or ask through getting support for your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between Amazon China, Amazon Global Store and Amazon.com?
Amazon.cn is now a limited site rather than a local marketplace. The Amazon Global Store lets shoppers there buy imported stock shipped in from overseas fulfilment centres. Amazon.com serves buyers in the US from domestic inventory, and it is the marketplace most exporters actually list on.
How Do I Confirm the Current Status of Amazon’s Operations There Myself?
Check Amazon’s own service and help pages for the specific product, then cross-check its investor disclosures for anything material. For cloud services, the AWS China site names the local operating partners for each region. Both beat relying on news articles written years ago.
Can You Still Order From Amazon Into or Out of the Country?
Yes, through cross-border channels. Global Store orders ship in from abroad, and a package forwarder covers items that are not export-eligible to your address. Expect customs clearance and duties on arrival, plus longer delivery windows than a domestic order would take.
What the Current Picture Means for Your Next Move
Amazon China today means Global Store access for shoppers, Global Selling for exporters and two locally operated cloud regions. It does not mean a local marketplace you can list on, and no amount of older commentary changes that.
So the real question for a seller in South Asia is not whether Amazon runs a storefront there. It is whether your payouts, your supplier payments and your compliance paperwork are set up to handle cross-border e-commerce without surprises. That is the part you control.
If your Amazon Global Selling payouts are still routed through a path you are not confident in, opening a multi-currency account gives you somewhere to collect and hold those funds before you convert them.
Sources
- https://www.reuters.com/article/world/amazon-facing-entrenched-rivals-says-to-shut-china-online-store-idUSKCN1RT2AK/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/18/technology/amazon-china.html
- https://www.amazonaws.cn/en/about-aws/china/
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G4YFYCCNUSENA23B
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.
