This document is an analysis report on the third-party overseas warehouse industry released by Ebrun in June 2025. In simple terms, it mainly covers the following points:
First, it explains what a third-party overseas warehouse is. Simply put, it refers to warehouses built abroad that help cross-border e-commerce sellers store goods, pack, deliver, and even handle returns. Unlike platform-owned warehouses (such as Amazon FBA) or self-built warehouses by enterprises, third-party overseas warehouses are more flexible and suitable for small and medium-sized sellers.
Next, it discusses the development process of this industry. In the early days, it started with "garage warehouses" run by overseas students, which were quite rudimentary. Later, as cross-border e-commerce boomed, professional overseas warehouses began to develop, and services became more diversified. During the pandemic in 2020-2021, online shopping surged, leading to a sharp increase in demand for overseas warehouses and soaring prices. In 2022-2023, due to overexpansion, supply exceeded demand, and many small warehouses closed down. Since 2024, the industry has started to recover and gradually become more regulated.
Then it explains why overseas warehouses are becoming popular again. First, many countries have tightened import policies, and direct mail parcels are subject to higher taxes, so using overseas warehouses can save money. Second, e-commerce platforms (such as Temu, TikTok Shop) require sellers to stock goods locally, otherwise they won't provide traffic. Third, sea and air freight costs are unstable, and the situation in the Red Sea is chaotic, so using overseas warehouses can stabilize logistics. Fourth, merchants are starting to replenish inventory and need warehouses. Fifth, national policies support the construction of overseas warehouses.
Looking at the market situation, North America is the largest market with the most warehouses. Europe and Southeast Asia are also developing rapidly, with Southeast Asia having particularly great potential. Latin America and the Middle East still have few warehouses and are yet to be developed. Most companies operating overseas warehouses are small, with few large companies, making the industry relatively fragmented. Sellers use overseas warehouses mainly to reduce costs, deliver faster, handle returns more conveniently, and also because platforms force them to use them.
In terms of services, basic storage and delivery services are already very common, but merchants want more value-added services, such as repairing returns, helping to sell inventory, customized packaging, etc. However, these services are still insufficient, and there is a mismatch between supply and demand. The main costs are warehouse rent, labor, and last-mile delivery. Large companies, due to higher order volumes, can get discounts on delivery, resulting in lower costs.
In terms of competition, large companies are expanding warehouses and implementing automation, while small companies are either eliminated or survive by focusing on specific types of goods (such as large furniture) or specific regions. There is both cooperation and competition with platform-owned warehouses (such as FBA); when platform warehouses are insufficient, third-party warehouses can help fill the gap.
Finally, regarding capital and the future, large overseas warehouse companies are more likely to obtain investment to build more warehouses and develop technology, while small companies find it difficult to get funding and can only grow slowly. In the future, the industry will become more concentrated, with large companies becoming stronger and small companies surviving by relying on their unique features. Technology (such as robots and intelligent systems) will be used more, and services will become more refined—not just storage, but also helping sellers with more tasks, such as finding customers and managing inventory.
In summary, third-party overseas warehouses are becoming increasingly important, the industry is gradually improving, and both large companies and distinctive small companies can survive. In the future, the industry will be more professional and intelligent.
