Amazon launches manufacturing central to connect sellers with Indian suppliers

Amazon recently introduced Manufacturing Central, a portal connecting sellers with manufacturers in India, according to company communications sent to marketplace vendors. The program launched in August 2025, initially covering apparel, furniture, home decor, home linen, kitchen products, luggage, and office supplies.

Sourcing cost requirement preceded manufacturing push

The new portal follows Amazon's earlier requirement that sellers upload sourcing cost data for reimbursement calculations. "Amazon had brought about the need for every single seller to upload their own sourcing cost into Amazon," according to industry analysis of the company's supply chain strategy. The platform previously stated this information would help with reimbursements, limiting coverage to actual manufactured costs rather than broader business expenses.

Manufacturing Central operates through a four-step process. Sellers create accounts, discover manufacturers by category and country, raise request quotations, and finalize manufacturer relationships. "Select your preferred manufacturers and raise Request for Quotations to them. Once the request is raised, manufacturers will reach out to you in approximately 5 working days," states Amazon's program documentation.

The focus on Indian suppliers represents a strategic shift from traditional Chinese manufacturing relationships. Current product categories span multiple consumer segments, with plans for category expansion detailed in program materials. Amazon conducts preliminary verification of manufacturer registration information and factory details before listing suppliers on the platform.

India-focused supplier network launches amid trade tensions

Manufacturing Central specifically targets Indian suppliers while excluding other major manufacturing hubs. The timing coincides with increased tariffs on Chinese goods, creating opportunities for alternative sourcing relationships. Amazon's documentation emphasizes the platform connects sellers with "manufacturers that suit your requirements from amongst various directory listings."

The program enables custom product design through manufacturer partnerships. "Get customized products made which your customers will love. Collaborate with manufacturers who have in house Designers, R&D to develop unique products from concept to end product," according to program materials. This capability extends beyond simple sourcing to comprehensive product development services.

Quality control measures include manufacturer verification processes, though Amazon clarifies its role remains limited. "Amazon is not responsible for verifying or monitoring the accuracy of details provided by these manufacturers or any updates provided by them," states program documentation. Sellers must independently verify manufacturer capabilities and conduct necessary due diligence.

Marketing community implications

The Manufacturing Central launch represents Amazon's continued expansion of seller dependencies across the supply chain. Amazon's supply chain control strategy has accelerated through multiple service offerings, creating comprehensive platform integration for marketplace vendors.

The program builds on Amazon's existing supply chain infrastructure. The company moved over 20,000 containers globally in August 2024 and processed 2 billion product units through its domestic logistics network since September 2023. Manufacturing Central extends this control to the production stage, potentially creating end-to-end platform dependency.

Seller feedback on similar Amazon initiatives indicates mixed reception. Previous supply chain integrations have shown benefits for new sellers while raising concerns among established merchants about platform control and competitive risks. "For new sellers, for people have zero knowledge whatsoever within e-commerce or sourcing products, manufacturing, this is super cool," according to seller community analysis.

Technical implementation and seller requirements

The portal operates independently from Amazon's ordering systems. Sellers cannot place manufacturing orders directly through Manufacturing Central, instead managing transactions with suppliers outside the platform. Payment terms and business arrangements occur between sellers and manufacturers without Amazon involvement.

Manufacturing Central provides order status tracking capabilities. "Manufacturing Central enables the manufacturers to also update status of your orders as may be placed by you with the manufacturer outside of Manufacturing Central," according to program documentation. Sellers can monitor production progress through the "Manage Requests" interface.

The program currently charges no fees for access or usage. Amazon has not specified whether this free access represents a limited-time offering or permanent policy. The company's documentation states it is "not charging any fees from you for access and use of the Manufacturing Central for a limited period."

Strategic positioning within Amazon's ecosystem

Manufacturing Central integrates with Amazon's broader supply chain initiatives. Amazon's fully-managed supply chain service announced in September 2024 demonstrated the company's commitment to end-to-end logistics control. The manufacturing portal extends this strategy upstream to production sources.

The timing coincides with Amazon's efforts to address seller signup declines. "Amazon has had a drop in number of new seller signups," according to marketplace analysis, suggesting Manufacturing Central may target newer merchants seeking simplified supplier relationships. Established sellers with existing manufacturing partnerships may find less value in the platform.

Risk considerations include potential competitive exposure. If sellers achieve significant success using Manufacturing Central suppliers, Amazon could potentially leverage these relationships for private label development. "What is stopping Amazon from enticing one of their Indian manufacturers to give them and start allowing Amazon to just produce an Amazon basics version of this product," according to seller community discussions.

Implementation timeline and future expansion

Manufacturing Central launched in August 2025 with immediate availability for existing Amazon sellers. New sellers can access the platform after completing standard account creation processes. The initial seven categories represent the program's foundation, with expansion plans not yet detailed in public communications.

The program requires sellers to independently manage manufacturer relationships and transactions. Amazon's role remains limited to facilitating initial connections and providing status tracking infrastructure. This approach differs from more integrated Amazon services that handle transactions directly.

Geographic expansion beyond India has not been announced. The exclusive focus on Indian manufacturers may reflect strategic partnerships or regulatory considerations rather than technical limitations. Alternative manufacturing regions like Vietnam or Mexico are not currently included in the portal.

Timeline

• August 2025: Amazon launches Manufacturing Central portal for Indian suppliers
• Earlier 2025: Amazon requires sellers to upload sourcing cost data for reimbursements
• September 2024: Amazon announces fully-managed supply chain service
• September 2024: Buy with Prime expands with new merchant capabilities
• July 2024: Amazon Prime delivery speeds reach record highs
• January 2024: Amazon expands same-day delivery globally

Summary

Who: Amazon launched Manufacturing Central for marketplace sellers seeking Indian manufacturing partners

What: A portal connecting sellers with pre-approved manufacturers across seven product categories including apparel, furniture, and home goods

When: August 2025, following earlier sourcing cost requirements implemented throughout the year

Where: Platform focuses exclusively on Indian manufacturers, excluding other major production regions

Why: Amazon seeks to extend supply chain control while addressing seller signup declines and providing alternatives to Chinese manufacturing amid increased tariffs

PPC Land explains

Manufacturing Central: Amazon's newly launched portal that connects marketplace sellers with pre-approved manufacturers in India. The platform operates as a directory service where sellers can browse manufacturer profiles, request quotations, and establish supplier relationships across seven initial product categories. Unlike Amazon's integrated services, Manufacturing Central facilitates connections but does not handle transactions directly.

Supply Chain Control: Amazon's strategic initiative to manage every aspect of product flow from manufacturing to customer delivery. This comprehensive approach includes sourcing cost collection, manufacturing partnerships, logistics management, and fulfillment services. The strategy creates seller dependencies while potentially reducing Amazon's reliance on external supply chain participants.

Sourcing Cost: Manufacturing and production expenses that Amazon now requires sellers to upload for reimbursement calculations. This data collection effort preceded Manufacturing Central and provides Amazon with detailed manufacturing cost intelligence across product categories. The information helps Amazon understand production economics while limiting reimbursements to actual manufacturing costs.

Indian Manufacturers: The exclusive supplier focus for Manufacturing Central, representing Amazon's strategic pivot away from Chinese production sources. These manufacturers undergo preliminary verification processes including registration and factory detail checks. The India-specific approach may reflect trade policy considerations and Amazon's broader geographic diversification strategy.

Seller Dependencies: The increasing reliance of marketplace vendors on Amazon's integrated services for core business functions. Manufacturing Central extends these dependencies to the production stage, complementing existing logistics, fulfillment, and payment processing integrations. This dependency model strengthens Amazon's platform control while potentially limiting seller flexibility.

Product Categories: The seven initial segments covered by Manufacturing Central including apparel, furniture, home decor, home linen, kitchen products, luggage, and office supplies. These categories represent significant volume opportunities for Amazon sellers while focusing on consumer goods with established manufacturing capabilities in India.

Platform Integration: The technical and operational connection between Manufacturing Central and Amazon's broader seller ecosystem. While the manufacturing portal operates independently for transactions, it integrates with Amazon's seller dashboard and tracking systems. This selective integration approach balances functionality with transaction independence.

New Sellers: Amazon's target demographic for Manufacturing Central, particularly merchants lacking established manufacturing relationships or supply chain expertise. The platform addresses barriers to entry for inexperienced sellers while potentially increasing Amazon's seller base amid reported signup declines.

Marketplace Vendors: Third-party sellers who constitute the majority of Amazon's sales volume and represent the primary users of Manufacturing Central. These vendors face increasing integration options with Amazon's services while maintaining independent business operations. Their adoption patterns will determine Manufacturing Central's success.

Trade Tensions: The geopolitical and economic factors influencing manufacturing location decisions, particularly tariffs on Chinese goods. Manufacturing Central's India focus provides sellers with alternatives to traditional Chinese suppliers while supporting Amazon's geographic diversification objectives amid ongoing trade policy uncertainty.