Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Duisburg
Duisburg is the world's largest inland port and an end point of the rail freight routes from China.
Services in Duisburg
- Air freight in DuisburgAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in DuisburgFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in DuisburgImport 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 Duisburg
- AirportDüsseldorf
DUS - SeaportPort of Duisburgworld's largest inland port
Duisburg's nearest air gateway is Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), with belly capacity on passenger and long-haul flights; Cologne Bonn (CGN) and Frankfurt (FRA) offer freighter capacity. The city's strength is the Port of Duisburg (duisport), the world's largest inland port, where the Ruhr meets the Rhine. Containers move between Duisburg and Rotterdam and Antwerp by barge and rail, and the port is an end point of rail freight services from China.
The A40, A42, A59 and A3 connect Duisburg with the Ruhr area, the Lower Rhine and the Netherlands. Duisport's terminals, including the logport logistics areas, link barge, rail and truck, with rail services to the North Sea ports, Central and Eastern Europe and China.
Industries in Duisburg and how we support them
Duisburg is a centre of steel production, with thyssenkrupp Steel's main site in the city, and of logistics, with many distribution and container service companies around the port. Rail freight between China and Europe brings consumer goods, electronics and industrial parts into the region. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with sea freight via Rotterdam and Antwerp with Rhine pre-carriage to Duisburg, air freight under our own air waybills via DUS or CGN, Next Flight Out for spare parts, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
Operational logistics facts for Duisburg
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Duisburg (duisport) | World's largest inland port, trimodal terminals | Barge, rail and road options for containers |
| Rail services from China | Consumer goods, electronics and industrial parts | Alternative to sea and air for Asia imports |
| Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) | Belly cargo and long-haul flights | Nearest major airport for Duisburg |
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 airport serves Duisburg shippers for air freight?
Düsseldorf (DUS) is the nearest airport and suits consignments that fit passenger aircraft. For freighters we use Cologne Bonn (CGN) or Frankfurt (FRA). We compare routings per shipment.
Can air freight be combined with sea freight arriving at Duisburg?
Yes. Importers often move base volumes by sea or rail into Duisburg and use air freight for urgent quantities. We book both in one file, so documents and customs data stay consistent.
Do you collect in Duisburg port areas and Moers?
Yes. We arrange pick-up across Duisburg, including the port areas, as well as Moers, Oberhausen and Dinslaken through trusted road partners.
Can goods arriving at Duisburg by rail from China be cleared there?
Goods arriving by rail from outside the EU are usually moved under a transit procedure from the EU entry point to Duisburg and can then be cleared. Our own customs team files the import declaration in ATLAS. Release depends on complete documents.
How are steel imports to Duisburg affected by trade measures?
Steel products may be subject to EU safeguard quotas or anti-dumping duties depending on product and origin. We check these before filing so the importer knows the duty position in advance.
Do you clear containers moved by barge from Rotterdam to Duisburg?
Yes. Containers can move under an EU transit procedure from Rotterdam to Duisburg and be cleared in Germany. We advise whether transit or clearance at the port is more practical for the shipment.