Dortmund, Germany
Sea freight in Dortmund
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Dortmund, via Dortmund inland port, sea via Rotterdam and Antwerp. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Dortmund
- AirportDortmund
DTM - AirportDüsseldorf
DUS - SeaportDortmund inland port, sea via Rotterdam and Antwerp
Dortmund Airport (DTM) is a passenger-focused airport with little cargo, so air freight from Dortmund is normally routed via Düsseldorf (DUS) for belly cargo, Cologne Bonn (CGN) for freighter and express services, or Frankfurt (FRA). Sea freight uses Rotterdam and Antwerp, and Dortmund has a large canal port on the Dortmund-Ems Canal with container terminals and rail connections, so containers can reach the city by inland waterway.
Dortmund is one of Germany's best-connected road locations, with the A1, A2, A40, A44 and A45 converging on the city. The Port of Dortmund, one of Europe's largest canal ports, links the region with the North Sea ports by barge, and its container terminals are connected to the rail network.
Operational logistics facts for Dortmund
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Dortmund | Canal port with container terminals | Barge and rail connections to Rotterdam and Antwerp |
| Distribution centres in the eastern Ruhr | Retail and e-commerce fulfilment | Imports delivered to distribution centres after clearance |
| Düsseldorf (DUS) and Cologne Bonn (CGN) | Belly, freighter and express capacity | Two major air gateways within the region |
Industries in Dortmund and how we support them
Dortmund has turned from coal and steel into a logistics, IT and machinery location. Many large distribution centres for retail and e-commerce operate in and around the city, supported by research at TU Dortmund and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics. Machinery makers and IT companies complete the picture. Ziem Logistics supports Dortmund shippers with air freight under our own air waybills via DUS, CGN or FRA, sea freight via Rotterdam and Antwerp, Next Flight Out for spare parts, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
From the port to your door in Dortmund
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Dortmund inland port, sea via Rotterdam and Antwerp, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Dortmund area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
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
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Dortmund?
Usually Dortmund inland port, sea via Rotterdam and Antwerp. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.