Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Bremen
Bremen combines an Airbus site, a large Mercedes-Benz plant and the container port of Bremerhaven.
Services in Bremen
- Air freight in BremenAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in BremenFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in BremenImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Bremen
- AirportBremen Airport
BRE - AirportHamburg
HAMroad feeder - SeaportBremerhaven and Bremen ports
Bremen Airport (BRE) handles a modest amount of air cargo, mainly on passenger flights, so larger air freight from Bremen is usually trucked to Hamburg (HAM) or Frankfurt (FRA). The region's strength is sea freight: Bremerhaven is one of Europe's largest container ports and a major port for car exports and imports, while the Bremen city ports handle breakbulk, project cargo and general cargo.
Bremen is connected by the A1 (Hamburg, Ruhr), A27 (Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Hanover) and A28 (Oldenburg, Netherlands). The A27 links the city directly with Bremerhaven's container terminal, which is also served by extensive rail connections to southern Germany and Central Europe. The Bremen freight village (GVZ) next to the Neustädter Hafen concentrates logistics companies.
Industries in Bremen and how we support them
Bremen combines aerospace, automotive and food industries. Airbus builds high-lift systems for wings and equips aircraft in Bremen, the city is a centre of space technology, and Mercedes-Benz runs a large car plant there. The city also has a long tradition in coffee roasting, food processing and brewing. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with sea freight via Bremerhaven and Bremen, air freight under our own air waybills via BRE, HAM or FRA, On-Board Courier and Next Flight Out for aerospace parts, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
Operational logistics facts for Bremen
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Container port Bremerhaven | FCL/LCL to and from North America and Asia | Sea freight and customs handled in one shipment file |
| Bremen city ports and GVZ | Breakbulk, project cargo and distribution | Option for non-containerised machinery |
| Aerospace cluster Bremen | Aircraft and space components | NFO and On-Board Courier for urgent parts |
| Road feeder BRE to HAM and FRA | Air freight requiring larger capacity | Freighter options beyond Bremen Airport |
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bremen air shipments leave from BRE or Hamburg?
Small consignments can sometimes leave from Bremen Airport (BRE). For most international air freight we truck the cargo to Hamburg (HAM) or Frankfurt (FRA), which offer more capacity and destinations. We compare routings with each booking.
Can you ship urgent aerospace parts from Bremen?
Yes. For urgent aircraft or space components we offer Next Flight Out with customs pre-lodged, or an On-Board Courier who hand-carries the item. We agree packaging, documents and any export control requirements before pick-up.
Do you collect in Bremerhaven, Delmenhorst and Lower Saxony?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in Bremen, Bremerhaven, Delmenhorst and the surrounding Lower Saxony area through trusted road partners and deliver to the chosen departure airport.
Can you clear containers arriving in Bremerhaven?
Yes. Our own customs team files import declarations in ATLAS for containers discharged in Bremerhaven. With documents sent before arrival, the declaration can be prepared in advance. Release depends on complete documents and any customs inspections.
How are coffee or food imports into Bremen handled?
Food and agricultural imports may need health certificates, phytosanitary documents or other official controls in addition to the customs declaration. We check the requirements for the product and coordinate the documents before filing, as missing certificates delay release.
Do aerospace exports from Bremen need export control checks?
Many aerospace components fall under dual-use or military export control rules. We check classification and licence requirements before filing the export declaration in ATLAS, so the shipment is not held at departure.