Evaluate carrier access (ocean, express, inland), bonded customs capabilities, facility types (ambient, cold, cross-dock), SLA performance for pick/pack, returns handling, and peak scalability. Consider KPIs such as order-to-ship lead time, inventory accuracy, and cost per order to align the 3PL with your fulfillment strategy.

Proximity to port terminals and national highways shortens ocean and road transit, expanding carrier options and reducing lead times. A Shantou location typically improves feeder vessel schedules and inland trucking windows, enabling faster cross-border shipments and more reliable multimodal routing for B2B lanes.

• Storage rates by pallet or cubic meter and tiered minimums
• Inbound receiving and put-away charges
• Picking, packing, and value-added service fees
• Cross-border customs, bonded handling, and documentation costs
• Transportation accessorials and minimum monthly commitments

Look for on-site bonded warehouse status, experienced customs brokerage, export declaration processes, secure inventory segregation for duty deferral, and systems that support traceability and audit trails. These capabilities reduce clearance delays and support import/export compliance across trade lanes.