Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Rostock
Rostock is Germany's ferry gateway to Scandinavia and a base for the wind energy industry.
Services in Rostock
- Air freight in RostockAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in RostockFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in RostockImport 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 Rostock
- AirportRostock-Laage
RLG - AirportHamburg
HAM - SeaportPort of Rostock
Rostock-Laage Airport (RLG) is a small regional airport, so most air freight from Rostock is trucked to Hamburg (HAM) or Berlin Brandenburg (BER), or to Frankfurt (FRA) for freighters. The Port of Rostock is one of Germany's main Baltic Sea ports, with frequent ferry and trailer services to Trelleborg in Sweden and Gedser in Denmark, and it handles bulk, project cargo and heavy goods. Deep-sea containers for the region generally move via Hamburg.
The A19 links Rostock with Berlin, and the A20 Baltic Sea motorway runs east towards Poland and west towards Lübeck and Hamburg. The port has rail connections for combined transport, linking ferry traffic from Scandinavia with destinations across Central and Southern Europe.
Industries in Rostock and how we support them
Rostock is a base for wind energy and maritime industry. Nordex produces wind turbine components in Rostock, Liebherr builds ship and offshore cranes in the port, and shipyards and maritime suppliers are active in the region. The port also serves agricultural bulk exports from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via HAM, BER or FRA, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for wind turbine and crane spare parts, sea freight via Hamburg or Rostock, and import and export clearance by our own customs team.
Operational logistics facts for Rostock
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Rostock | Ferries and trailers to Sweden and Denmark, bulk and project cargo | Road-ferry connections to Scandinavia |
| Wind energy and crane manufacturing | Turbine components and crane parts | NFO and OBC for urgent service parts |
| Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Belly cargo | Main air gateway for Rostock via the A20 and A1 |
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 do you use for Rostock air freight?
Rostock-Laage (RLG) has very limited cargo services, so we usually truck air freight to Hamburg (HAM) or Berlin Brandenburg (BER), or to Frankfurt (FRA) for freighter routings. We decide per shipment.
Can you ship wind turbine spare parts urgently from Rostock?
Yes. For turbine downtime we offer Next Flight Out with customs pre-lodged, or an On-Board Courier for smaller components. Larger parts may need freighter capacity, which we check before booking.
Do you collect in Rostock, Wismar and Stralsund?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund and across Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania through trusted road partners and deliver to the departure airport.
Do ferry shipments from Rostock to Sweden or Denmark need customs clearance?
No customs declaration is needed for EU goods moving between Germany, Sweden and Denmark, as all three are in the EU single market. Non-EU goods or excise goods require additional procedures, which our own customs team advises on.
How are crane or turbine components exported outside the EU declared?
We prepare the export declaration in ATLAS with tariff classification, value and origin, and check export control requirements. For project cargo, we coordinate documents for the shipment's individual pieces.
Can goods arriving by sea in Rostock be cleared there?
Yes. Our own customs team files import declarations in ATLAS for goods arriving from outside the EU in Rostock. Release depends on complete documents and any customs inspections.