As global e-commerce continues to scale, warehousing in China remains a strategic move for many retailers looking to optimize cost, speed, and access to manufacturing hubs. But navigating the landscape of warehousing in China isn’t easy—especially if you’re unfamiliar with local logistics infrastructure or lack reliable partners on the ground.
Thanks to the rapid growth of e-commerce, China’s logistics sector has seen rapid growth recently, and forecasts predict that growth may continue at a rate of CAGR 7.3% between 2022 and 2027.
Since the logistics industry is so expansive and so many of the world’s goods are manufactured in China, it makes sense that retailers would find it convenient to warehouse the product in the region.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about choosing the right warehouse in China: from warehouse types and locations to trusted service providers and tips to minimize risk.
Let’s jump into how to figure out your own needs, what types of warehouses there are, and who you can work with to make your warehousing in China a success.
China remains the world’s largest manufacturing hub, and the country’s logistics industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% between 2022–2027. With strong infrastructure, proximity to ports, and growing investments in fulfillment technologies, warehousing in China offers multiple advantages:
Lower fulfillment costs
Close proximity to manufacturers
Access to major export ports (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo)
Rapid warehouse development in key logistics zones
However, China’s business culture places high value on trust (guanxi), and dealing with warehousing providers without local expertise can lead to communication breakdowns, contract issues, and inefficiencies.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Warehouse in China
When beginning your search for the perfect warehouse, important factors to keep in mind are:
Services
Consider what you need. Do you need a full-service fulfillment center, or just a warehouse to store goods?
Are you experienced enough to manage inventory and shipments in-house, or do you need to work with a 4PL or sourcing agent to help manage all the details for your inventory?
Location
Choose a warehouse in China close to your factory and a major export hub. Top warehousing cities include:
Guangzhou & Ningbo – Access to the Pearl River Delta and East China shipping routes
Shanghai – Strong infrastructure and international port
Shenzhen – Ideal for electronics and high-volume exports
Space
Consider how much room you will take up in a warehouse, and make sure that that warehouse building can accommodate your needs.
For example, if your product is shipped in large containers or oddly shaped, you will need to accommodate for vertical and horizontal space that those items will take up when being moved around the warehouse and stored on shelves.
Consider what will happen if you grow or decide to keep more inventory on hand. Will that location be able to handle that, and will you be able to afford the per-square-meter cost they charge?
Security
What level of security are you expecting for your warehouse? Depending on your level of risk aversion, you may want to prioritize only working with warehousing and fulfillment providers that run locations with thorough security systems and cameras.
Technology & Equipment
Modern fulfillment centers offer tech-enabled solutions such as:
WMS (Warehouse Management Systems)
Real-time inventory tracking
Automation & robotics
Barcode/RFID integration
This ensures accuracy, transparency, and cost-saving opportunities.
Types of Warehouses in China
Warehouse Type
Description
Fulfillment Centers (3PLs)
Manage inventory, packing, and shipping. Ideal for e-commerce brands.
Customs Bonded Warehouses
Hold imported goods without immediate tax payment. Good for cross-border trade.
It can be tough to find accurate information about what services warehouses offer. You can use Google, but the results are not always accurate.
If you want a more effective search tool, go to the Alibaba site. Alibaba has numerous listings for storage and fulfillment services of all kinds.
However, for those who do not have any business relationships within China, it’s a good idea to team up with a partner with those relationships already:
Work with a third-party logistics provider
These are full-service logistics companies that will take care of the whole shipping process. They provide you with a fulfillment center, where they both manage your inventory and fulfill orders for you.
Depending on the 3PL, they may also offer any of the following services:
IT systems integration
Reverse logistics (returns)
Inventory management
Transportation and consolidation services
Work with a freight forwarder
A freight forwarder is simply a general term for a company that provides logistics services but typically does not own assets like warehouses and vehicles.
Freight forwarders function as the middlemen of the logistics world, linking you with different service providers. Services that a typical freight forwarder provides include:
Ocean, air freight, and inland transportation
Storage services
Assistance with import/export documentation and other customs help
Working with a Chinese freight forwarder to find warehousing in China is a great idea, as they will be well-connected with warehousing and fulfillment services throughout the country, and will help you find one that is right for you.
Work with a sourcing agent in China
Similar to freight forwarders, sourcing agents do not typically hold their own assets. Instead, they provide you with a list of pre-vetted warehouses to choose from based on your needs.
The sourcing agent may provide other logistics services, including fulfillment and consolidation, but it will depend on your provider, so please check out their offerings on the company site.
Usually, these agents will not give you any support in terms of inventory management and oversight.
This type of provider sits atop the others, like Uber for logistics.
Similar to a sourcing agent or freight forwarder, they do not own their own assets, but they find the proper storage and fulfillment providers based on your product and location requirements.
The 4PL has a network of providers of all different types which are all connected to the 4PL through technology and managed actively by the 4PL.
In addition to getting you set up with all of the logistics services you need, a 4PL will provide you with data-driven insights on your business through a single platform, and some will even provide you consulting along the way to help meet your goals.
Cut down your risk by working with an experienced 4PL based in Asia
Wayfindr is a trusted Asia-based 4PL that connects you with verified warehouse partners in China tailored to your specific product, budget, and timeline.
With our sourcing + fulfillment + shipping bundle, we:
Offer visibility, risk mitigation, and expert local support
Identify optimal warehouse locations near your manufacturers
Ensure seamless integration of fulfillment & technology
If you need some guidance on finding warehouse in China, we can help. Reach out to us today to get a free assessment.
Work with a vetted 3PL/4PL provider like Wayfindr or get direct referrals from businesses in your industry.
About Author
Nick Bartlett
Co-founder & Director
Nick co-founded Wayfindr to help brands design and build market-leading carbon-neutral D2C logistics. As Director, he brings 15+ years of experience across logistics, marketing, supply chain and retail from Asia Pacific to the world.
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