Amazon AWD Europe Offers Free Storage Through December

Amazon has officially launched Amazon AWD Europe across five European markets and the UK, along with a limited-time storage promotion designed to help sellers prepare for the peak shopping season.

Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) officially went live in Europe and the UK on August 20, 2026. As part of the launch, Amazon is offering AWD free storage from October 1 through December 31, 2026.

During the promotional period, sellers will pay no storage fees for eligible inventory held in AWD facilities. Standard inbound processing, outbound processing, and transportation fees will still apply. Regular storage charges will resume on January 1, 2027.

For sellers preparing inventory for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas shopping season, the promotion provides an opportunity to reduce fixed warehousing costs while strengthening their Q4 inventory position.

What Are the Key Benefits of Amazon AWD Europe?

One of the biggest advantages of Amazon AWD Europe is that it gives sellers additional inventory capacity outside the traditional FBA storage system.

Key benefits include:

• Additional storage capacity beyond standard FBA capacity limits
• Consistent storage rates throughout the year
• Automated inventory replenishment to FBA fulfillment centers
• AMS storage rates starting as low as €11.09 per cubic meter per month
• No low-inventory, aged-inventory, or storage-utilization surcharges
• No long-term contract requirements

Through Amazon's automated replenishment system, AWD can use demand forecasts to determine when and where inventory should be transferred to FBA fulfillment centers.

For sellers participating in Pan-European FBA, inventory sent to an AWD facility in Germany can also support broader fulfillment across eligible European markets. This can simplify FBA inventory management while reducing the need to manually coordinate replenishment between different fulfillment centers.

Eligibility Requirements for EU and UK Sellers

Amazon has established specific eligibility requirements for sellers using AWD in Europe and the UK.

For sellers operating in the European Union, businesses generally need:

• A valid German VAT registration
• VAT registration in at least one additional EU country
• Enrollment in the Pan-European FBA program

For UK sellers, businesses must hold a valid UK VAT registration, and their products must remain actively listed for sale.

Amazon also applies carton-level shipping requirements. Each carton must:

• Measure no more than 63.5 cm
• Weigh no more than 23 kg
• Contain only one SKU per carton

Sellers should confirm individual ASIN eligibility before preparing shipments.

A Q4 Inventory Opportunity for Cross-Border Sellers

The three-month AWD free storage promotion arrives at an important time for cross-border sellers. Q4 typically brings heavier inventory demand as businesses prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday sales.

By moving additional inventory into AWD, sellers may be able to reduce pressure on their FBA capacity while keeping more stock positioned closer to Amazon's fulfillment network.

The arrangement may be particularly useful for businesses that need to build inventory early but want to avoid paying several months of additional storage costs before peak-season demand arrives.

Plan Germany and UK Inventory Carefully

Sellers considering Amazon AWD Europe should review eligible ASINs and determine how much inventory should be positioned in Germany and the UK.

Sending the first batch of inventory by the end of August may provide additional time for receiving and inventory preparation before the October promotional period begins. Sellers should also factor inbound processing, transportation, and outbound handling costs into their overall calculations, since only storage fees are waived.

A well-planned AWD strategy can complement existing FBA inventory management, especially for sellers carrying larger Q4 inventory volumes or facing FBA storage limitations.

Conclusion

Amazon's temporary AWD free storage offer gives European and UK sellers a valuable opportunity to lower warehousing expenses during one of the busiest inventory planning periods of the year.

From October 1 through December 31, 2026, eligible sellers can store inventory in AWD without paying storage fees while still benefiting from automated FBA replenishment and expanded inventory capacity.

For cross-border businesses, the key is to confirm ASIN eligibility early, plan inventory placement between Germany and the UK, and coordinate inbound shipping in advance. With the right preparation, Amazon AWD Europe can become a useful part of a broader peak-season FBA inventory management strategy.