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Why is Amazon UK an opportunity for Polish companies?
Despite Brexit, the British market remains one of the most promising directions for Polish exports. The United Kingdom has over 60 million consumers, 90% of whom shop online. Amazon UK is the country's largest marketplace, with a share of over 30% of the e-commerce market. For Polish companies, this is an excellent opportunity to reach a wide range of customers and build a brand in one of the world's most mature economies.
Account registration and formal requirements
The first step to selling on Amazon UK is opening a seller account in Amazon Seller Central. Registration involves verifying the company and the owner's details. The good news is that a Polish company does not need to set up a company in the United Kingdom — running a business in Poland is enough.
However, selling on Amazon UK does bring tax requirements:
- A UK VAT number — required if you store goods in the United Kingdom (e.g. under Amazon FBA) or ship higher-value products above £135.
- An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number — needed for customs clearance (both the EU and the UK one).
Amazon supports sellers with services such as VAT Services on Amazon, which automatically calculates and settles VAT.
Logistics models — FBA or FBM?
Polish companies have two main options:
1. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA UK)
Goods are shipped in bulk to Amazon's warehouses in the United Kingdom. Amazon handles:
- storage,
- packing and shipping,
- returns handling,
- customer service.
This shortens delivery times, and products more often get the Prime badge, which boosts sales. The downside is additional customs formalities and import costs.
2. Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)
Selling with your own shipping, e.g. from Poland. This is a cheaper solution in terms of UK storage, but longer delivery times can be a barrier for customers.
3. European Fulfillment Network (EFN)
Since 2023 it has again allowed shipping from EU warehouses to customers in the UK. However, this is a slower and often more expensive solution than FBA UK.
Taxes and sales handling
The British e-commerce tax system works as follows:
- Sales up to £135 — VAT is collected automatically by Amazon, which exempts a seller based outside the UK from tax registration.
- Sales above £135 — treated as an import. UK VAT registration and filing tax returns are required.
- PVA (Postponed VAT Accounting) — allows import VAT to be accounted for in the return, without having to pay it at the border.
Customs clearance requires commercial invoices, tariff codes, export declarations in Poland and import declarations in the United Kingdom. Polish companies often use customs brokers or couriers offering a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) option, where the seller pays the duty and VAT.
Marketing on Amazon UK
To succeed, it is not enough just to list products. You need to take care of:
- Localising the listing — descriptions in English, adapted units (metric or imperial), professional photos.
- Amazon Ads (PPC) — paid advertising campaigns that help build visibility in search results.
- Customer reviews — the better the reviews, the higher the ranking in Amazon's results and the greater buyer trust.
E-commerce trends in the United Kingdom in 2025
The UK e-commerce market is entering a mature phase. The key trends are:
- Mobile commerce (m-commerce) — almost 60% of online sales happen via smartphones.
- Social commerce — shopping directly through social media such as TikTok or Instagram.
- Sustainable trade — consumers choose eco-friendly brands, and shops offer "green delivery" options.
- New technologies — artificial intelligence, AR/VR (e.g. virtual product try-on), chatbots serving customers 24/7.
How to reduce fulfilment costs in the UK?
The cost of running warehouses in the United Kingdom is high, so Polish companies can use several methods:
- Outsourcing fulfilment (3PL) — an external company stores the goods and fulfils orders. You only pay for the space used and shipments.
- Warehouse automation — implementing WMS systems, pick-by-light or robotics increases work efficiency.
- Warehouse location — cheaper regions, such as the Midlands or northern England, help reduce operating costs.
- Negotiating courier rates — a higher shipment volume means lower courier service prices.
Summary
Polish companies can sell more easily on Amazon UK if they prepare properly for entering the market. The key actions are:
- registering an account and for VAT,
- choosing a logistics model (most often FBA UK),
- optimising fulfilment costs,
- adapting listings to British customers and using Amazon Ads.
Despite Brexit, the United Kingdom remains a market with huge potential. Companies that invest in logistics, marketing and customer service can gain a competitive edge and win the loyalty of British consumers.
Related guides
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