Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Erfurt
Erfurt has become one of Germany's fastest-growing logistics hubs thanks to its central location.
Services in Erfurt
- Air freight in ErfurtAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in ErfurtFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in ErfurtImport 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 Erfurt
- AirportErfurt-Weimar
ERF - AirportLeipzig/Halle
LEJ - SeaportSea freight via Hamburg
Erfurt-Weimar Airport (ERF) has limited cargo services, so air freight from Thuringia is usually trucked to Leipzig/Halle (LEJ), one of Europe's largest cargo hubs, or to Frankfurt (FRA) for long-haul freighter connections. Sea freight moves via Hamburg, with containers reaching Thuringia by rail or truck. Because Erfurt sits in the geographic centre of Germany, many importers use it as a distribution base after clearance at the arrival port or airport.
The Erfurter Kreuz, where the A4 (Dresden, Frankfurt) meets the A71 (Schweinfurt, Sangerhausen), is the core of Thuringia's logistics industry. Erfurt main station is a junction of the high-speed lines Berlin-Munich and Frankfurt-Dresden, and the Erfurt freight village links road and rail.
Industries in Erfurt and how we support them
Erfurt has grown into one of Germany's important logistics locations thanks to its central position. Large e-commerce fulfilment centres, including Zalando's, operate in the region, and CATL produces battery cells near the Erfurter Kreuz in Arnstadt. Thuringia also has a tradition in solar technology, optics and precision engineering. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via LEJ or FRA, sea freight via Hamburg, Next Flight Out for production parts, and import and export clearance by our own customs team, including dangerous goods documentation for battery-related shipments.
Operational logistics facts for Erfurt
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Erfurter Kreuz (A4 and A71) | Distribution and e-commerce fulfilment | Central location for nationwide delivery |
| Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) | Freighter and express capacity | Main air gateway for Thuringia |
| Battery and industrial cluster at Arnstadt | Battery cells and production equipment | Dangerous goods classification checked before booking |
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 Erfurt shipments fly from ERF or Leipzig/Halle?
Erfurt-Weimar (ERF) has limited cargo capacity, so most air freight is trucked to Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) or Frankfurt (FRA). We choose based on destination, size and urgency with each booking.
Can you ship lithium batteries from Thuringia by air?
Lithium batteries are dangerous goods with strict rules on packaging, state of charge and quantity. We check whether the shipment can fly, book airlines that accept it, and prepare the documents. Some shipments must go by sea or road instead.
Do you collect in Erfurt, Weimar and Arnstadt?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in Erfurt, Weimar, Arnstadt, Gotha and Jena through trusted road partners and deliver the freight to the departure airport.
Can e-commerce imports for Erfurt fulfilment centres be cleared at the arrival airport?
Yes. We file the import declaration in ATLAS at the arrival airport and deliver the cleared goods to the fulfilment centre. Our own customs team checks invoices, values and descriptions before filing.
Do battery cell imports need special documents?
Besides invoice and packing list, battery shipments need dangerous goods documents for transport and, depending on the product, proof of conformity with EU rules. We clarify these requirements before shipment.
What do Thuringian importers need for their first import?
An EORI number issued by German Customs, a commercial invoice with a clear description and value, a packing list and the transport document. We help with tariff classification before filing.