Bielefeld, Germany
Customs clearance in Bielefeld
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Bielefeld. Customs clearance in Germany is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Industries in Bielefeld and how we support them
East Westphalia-Lippe is home to many family-owned and internationally active manufacturers. Dr. Oetker is based in Bielefeld, Miele and Bertelsmann in nearby Gütersloh, Claas in Harsewinkel, and machine tool maker DMG Mori has a major site in Bielefeld. Shipments include food products, household appliances, agricultural machinery parts and machine tools. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via HAJ, DUS or FRA, sea freight for machinery and FCL volumes, Next Flight Out for spare parts, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
Operational logistics facts for Bielefeld
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (PAD) | Regional airport | Local option for selected consignments |
| Motorway A2 | East-west freight corridor | Road access to Hanover, Düsseldorf and the North Sea ports |
| Machinery and appliance makers in OWL | Machine tools, appliances and spare parts | NFO for spare parts and sea freight for machinery |
Airports, seaports and connections in Bielefeld
- AirportPaderborn/Lippstadt
PAD - AirportHannover
HAJ - SeaportSea freight via Hamburg and Bremerhaven
Bielefeld's closest airport is Paderborn/Lippstadt (PAD), a regional airport with limited cargo, so air freight from East Westphalia-Lippe is usually routed via Hannover (HAJ), Düsseldorf (DUS) or Frankfurt (FRA), depending on size and destination. Sea freight moves via Hamburg and Bremerhaven, with Rotterdam as an alternative, and containers reach the region by rail or truck. Heavy machine tools from the region usually travel by sea rather than air.
Bielefeld lies on the A2 between the Ruhr area and Hanover, the main east-west freight corridor in northern Germany, and the A33 links it with Paderborn and Osnabrück. Rail links connect the region with Hamburg, Bremerhaven and the Ruhr area.
In-house customs team
Import and export entries for Germany are prepared and filed by our in-house customs team. The same team checks the documents before the goods leave origin, so most open points are settled before the goods arrive.
Customs clearance in Germany
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Germany is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from Germany we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Germany need an EORI number issued by German Customs.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Do machine tool exports from Bielefeld need export licences?
Some machine tools fall under dual-use controls, depending on their specifications. Our own customs team checks classification and whether a BAFA licence is required before filing the export declaration in ATLAS.
How are food exports from Bielefeld documented?
Food exports may need health certificates or other documents depending on the destination country's rules. We prepare the export declaration and coordinate the required documents with the shipper.
Can preferential origin reduce duties for appliances exported from the region?
Where a free trade agreement applies and the origin rules are met, an origin statement can reduce import duties at destination. We check the documents and include the details in the export file.