Amazon applies for broker status with the Shanghai Shipping Exchange

Further signs are emerging that American online retail giant Amazon is gearing up to become a fully fledged transport operator including in the realms of ocean shipping.

Last month, Splash reported that Amazon’s China affiliate has registered with the US Federal Maritime Commission to become a licenced ocean freight forwarder.

Amazon has registered its Chinese subsidiary, Beijing Century Joyo Courier Service, as a freight forwarder.

It now emerges Amazon has also filed an application with the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to serve as a shipping broker for 12 trade routes, including Shanghai to Los Angeles and Shanghai to Hamburg.

At present, Amazon’s ocean shipping requirements are approximately one tenth of WalMart’s, but are growing fast.

The company is buying up logistics firms, trucks and air freight infrastructure in Europe and the US at the moment with a view to cutting its own logistics costs, which are believed to cost Amazon around $1bn a month.