Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Leipzig
Leipzig/Halle is one of Europe's largest air cargo hubs with 24-hour operations.
Services in Leipzig
- Air freight in LeipzigAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in LeipzigFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in LeipzigImport 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 Leipzig
- AirportLeipzig/Halle Airport
LEJ - SeaportSea freight via Hamburg
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) is one of Europe's largest air cargo hubs and DHL's main European hub, with extensive night-flight operations and a large share of freighter traffic. For shippers in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia this means direct access to freighter and express capacity close by. Leipzig has no seaport; sea freight moves via Hamburg, with containers reaching the region by rail.
The airport sits directly at the junction of the A9 (Berlin, Munich) and A14 (Magdeburg, Dresden), with the A38 completing the motorway triangle around Leipzig. The airport has its own rail station on the high-speed line between Leipzig and Halle, and the Leipzig freight village and rail terminals link the region with Hamburg and Eastern Europe.
Industries in Leipzig and how we support them
The Leipzig region has developed into an automotive and logistics location: BMW and Porsche build cars in Leipzig, and many suppliers are based in the surrounding area. Large e-commerce and distribution centres cluster near the airport. Shipments include automotive parts, electronics and consumer goods for online retail. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via LEJ, Next Flight Out for production-critical parts, On-Board Courier, sea freight via Hamburg with rail delivery, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
Operational logistics facts for Leipzig
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) | Freighter and express operations, night flights | Freighter capacity directly in central Germany |
| Motorway junction A9 and A14 | Road feeder and distribution traffic | Short first-mile from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia |
| Automotive plants in Leipzig | Production parts and supplier logistics | NFO and OBC to keep assembly lines supplied |
| Freight village Leipzig | Rail links to Hamburg and Eastern Europe | Sea freight via Hamburg delivered by rail |
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 you use Leipzig/Halle for shipments from Berlin and Dresden too?
Often, yes. Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) offers considerably more freighter capacity than Berlin or Dresden airports, so shipments from across eastern Germany are frequently trucked to LEJ. For other lanes Frankfurt is a better fit; we compare options with each booking.
Can you ship automotive parts from Leipzig suppliers urgently?
Yes. With Next Flight Out we book the first available flight from LEJ or another suitable gateway and prepare export customs in parallel. For smaller critical parts, an On-Board Courier can hand-carry the item to the destination plant.
Do you arrange pick-up across Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in Leipzig, Halle and the wider central German region through trusted road partners and deliver the freight to the airline at LEJ.
Can freight arriving at Leipzig/Halle be cleared at the airport?
Yes. Our own customs team files import declarations in ATLAS for freight arriving at LEJ. When documents are sent before arrival, the declaration can be prepared in advance. Release depends on complete documents and any customs checks.
How do you handle low-value e-commerce imports via Leipzig?
Since July 2021 all imports into the EU are subject to VAT, including low-value goods. We advise on the correct declaration type for the consignment and check that invoices, values and descriptions are complete before filing.
Do you handle export declarations for goods leaving via LEJ?
Yes. We prepare the export declaration in ATLAS so that the movement reference number is available when the freight is handed to the airline's handling agent at Leipzig/Halle.