Amazon introduces a production hub, aiming to link sellers directly with Indian manufacturers

Amazon has launched a new initiative, Manufacturing Central, designed to connect sellers with Indian manufacturers. The platform, which became available in August 2025, is part of a broader strategy to extend control over the supply chain and address declines in seller signups.

The program requires sellers to manage their manufacturer relationships and transactions independently, with Amazon's role limited to facilitating initial connections and providing status tracking infrastructure. Sellers cannot place manufacturing orders directly through Manufacturing Central; instead, they manage transactions with suppliers outside the platform.

Manufacturing Central operates across seven product categories, including apparel, furniture, home goods, home linen, kitchen products, luggage, and office supplies. The platform's target demographic includes merchants lacking established manufacturing relationships or supply chain expertise.

The exclusive focus on Indian manufacturers may reflect strategic partnerships or regulatory considerations rather than technical limitations. The manufacturers offered through the portal are primarily Indian manufacturers approved by Amazon, allowing users to search a directory of them, request and compare quotes, and manage product design and customization.

The platform integrates with Amazon's seller dashboard and tracking systems, but transactions are managed outside the platform by sellers and manufacturers. Manufacturing Central is currently free to access and use, but it is not specified whether this free access represents a limited-time offering or permanent policy.

The four-step process for using Manufacturing Central involves sellers creating accounts, discovering manufacturers, raising request quotations, and finalizing manufacturer relationships. Quality control measures include manufacturer verification processes, but Amazon clarifies it is not responsible for verifying or monitoring the accuracy of details provided by these manufacturers.

The launch of Manufacturing Central follows Amazon's requirement for sellers to upload sourcing cost data for reimbursements, implemented earlier in 2025. The program may target newer merchants seeking simplified supplier relationships, as Amazon has experienced a drop in new seller signups.

Manufacturing Central integrates with Amazon's broader supply chain initiatives, extending the company's control to the production stage. However, risk considerations include potential competitive exposure, as Amazon could leverage successful seller-supplier relationships for private label development.

In summary, Amazon's Manufacturing Central is a new portal connecting sellers with Indian manufacturers, offering a range of products and simplifying the process of managing transactions and relationships. The platform is free to access and use, but it remains to be seen whether this will be a permanent policy.

Amazon introduces a production hub, aiming to link sellers directly with Indian manufacturers