Dollar/Euro revenue — At ₹84+ per dollar, international sales have a built-in margin advantage
Less competition — There are thousands of Indian D2C brands competing domestically. In international markets, your products are unique.
But international selling is complex. Most brands fail because they underestimate logistics, duties, and customer expectations.
Option 1: Shopify Markets
How It Works
Shopify Markets lets you sell from your existing Shopify store to international customers
Auto-converts currency, calculates duties/taxes at checkout, handles international shipping labels
Your products, your brand, your customer relationship
Costs
Cost
Amount
Shopify Markets setup
Free (included in plan)
Shopify Payments international fee
3.9% + ₹3 per transaction
Duties/taxes
Charged to customer at checkout (DDP — Delivered Duty Paid)
International shipping (India to US)
₹800-2,000 per order (depends on weight)
Returns
₹1,500-3,000 per return (international reverse logistics)
Best For
Brands with existing international demand (Instagram followers from US/UK/UAE)
Premium products where high shipping costs are acceptable (₹3,000+ products)
Brands wanting full control over customer experience and data
Option 2: Amazon Global Selling
How It Works
List products on Amazon US, UK, UAE, etc. directly from Seller Central
Ship to Amazon’s international FBA warehouses → Amazon handles local fulfillment
Alternatively use Amazon’s Global Logistics (AGL) for cheaper India-to-warehouse shipping
Costs
Cost
Amount
Amazon referral fee
15-20% (same as domestic)
FBA fulfillment fee (US)
$3-8 per unit (depends on size/weight)
International shipping to FBA warehouse
$2-5 per unit via AGL
Monthly storage
$0.75-2.40 per cubic foot
Returns processing
$2-5 per return
Best For
Brands with mass-market appeal and competitive pricing
Products that are small/light (lower FBA fees)
Brands comfortable losing customer data to Amazon
Option 3: Manual Export
How It Works
Set up export documentation (IEC code, AD code, RCMC if applicable)
Partner with an international courier (DHL, FedEx) or freight forwarder
Handle customs, duties, and compliance yourself
Best For
B2B/wholesale international orders
Brands with a dedicated operations person who understands export documentation
High-value, low-volume products where margins justify the complexity
Comparison
Factor
Shopify Markets
Amazon Global
Manual Export
Setup complexity
Low
Medium
High
Upfront investment
Minimal
Medium (inventory to FBA)
High (documentation)
Customer ownership
You own
Amazon owns
You own
Shipping cost per order
₹800-2,000
₹200-500 (FBA handles)
₹500-1,500
Returns handling
You manage
Amazon manages
You manage
Brand control
Full
Limited
Full
Best first market
UAE (Indian diaspora)
US (largest Amazon)
UAE/UK (familiar)
Getting Started: Our Recommendation
Start with UAE — Large Indian diaspora, familiar with Indian brands, lower shipping costs, and Dubai is a gateway to the Middle East.
Use Shopify Markets for D2C — Keep control of your brand and customer data. Start with 10-20 bestselling products.
Add Amazon US after 6 months — Once you understand international logistics, ship inventory to Amazon FBA US for scale.
Don’t try all markets at once — Master one market before expanding. US, UK, UAE are the top 3 for Indian D2C brands.
Need Help Going International?
At Growww Tech, we help Indian D2C brands set up international selling — from Shopify Markets configuration to Amazon Global Selling setup. Let’s explore international markets.
