Germany
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Stuttgart
Stuttgart's automotive and machinery suppliers ship spare parts worldwide, mostly via Frankfurt freighter flights.
Services in Stuttgart
- Air freight in StuttgartAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in StuttgartFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in StuttgartImport 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 Stuttgart
- AirportStuttgart Airport
STR - AirportFrankfurt
FRAroad feeder - SeaportSea freight via Hamburg, Bremerhaven or Rotterdam
Stuttgart Airport (STR) serves Baden-Württemberg's capital region and handles air cargo mainly on passenger flights and via trucked services. Most long-haul air freight from Stuttgart is routed by road feeder to Frankfurt (FRA), where freighter capacity is far larger. Stuttgart has its own inland port on the Neckar, but containers to and from overseas normally move via Hamburg, Bremerhaven or Rotterdam, with rail connections into the region.
The A8 (Karlsruhe, Munich) and the A81 (Heilbronn, Würzburg, Lake Constance) cross near Stuttgart, and the airport lies directly on the A8. Rail terminals in Kornwestheim and the Port of Stuttgart on the Neckar link the region with the North Sea ports by rail, and road feeder trucks connect STR and the industrial belt with Frankfurt Airport.
Industries in Stuttgart and how we support them
The Stuttgart region is a centre of automotive production and engineering: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Bosch are headquartered here, surrounded by a dense network of suppliers, machine builders and automation specialists. Supply chains rely on spare parts, tooling, prototypes and machine components shipped worldwide, often at short notice. Ziem Logistics supports these companies with air freight under our own air waybills via STR or Frankfurt, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for production-critical parts, sea freight for machinery and FCL volumes, and import and export clearance by our own customs team, including export control checks for machine tools.
Operational logistics facts for Stuttgart
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Stuttgart Airport (STR) | Belly cargo and trucked air freight | Pick-up and hand-over close to the automotive cluster |
| Road feeder STR to FRA | Freighter capacity for heavy and oversized parts | Long-haul options for machinery and tooling |
| Port of Stuttgart and Kornwestheim rail terminal | Container rail links to North Sea ports | Sea freight with rail pre-carriage from the Neckar valley |
| Automotive and machinery cluster | Spare parts, prototypes and machine components | NFO and On-Board Courier when production is at risk |
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 Stuttgart shipments fly from STR or from Frankfurt?
Smaller consignments can leave from Stuttgart Airport (STR). Larger, heavier or oversized parts are usually routed by road feeder to Frankfurt (FRA) for freighter departures. We decide with each booking based on size, destination and urgency, and confirm the cut-off times.
Can you ship a machine component urgently to a customer plant abroad?
Yes. We check Next Flight Out options from STR or FRA and prepare export customs in parallel. For smaller critical parts, an On-Board Courier can collect the item and hand-carry it to the destination plant.
Do you collect from suppliers in the Rems-Murr, Böblingen and Esslingen districts?
Yes. We arrange pick-up across the Stuttgart region, including Böblingen, Sindelfingen, Esslingen, Ludwigsburg and the Rems-Murr district, through trusted road partners.
Do machine tools from Stuttgart need an export licence?
Some machine tools and components fall under dual-use or other export control rules. Our own customs team checks the classification and whether a licence from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) is required before filing the export declaration in ATLAS.
Can you clear returned parts for repair in Stuttgart?
Yes. Goods imported for repair and re-export can often use inward processing or other special procedures, so duties are not charged where the conditions are met. We check the options and prepare the declaration accordingly.
What do Stuttgart importers need for clearance?
An EORI number issued by German Customs, a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document. For automotive parts, a correct tariff classification and, where relevant, proof of origin for preferential duty rates are important. We review these before filing.