Stuttgart, Germany
Customs clearance in Stuttgart
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Stuttgart. Customs clearance in Germany is handled by our own in-house customs team.
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 |
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.
In-house customs team
Import and export entries for Germany are prepared and filed by our in-house customs team. The same team checks the documents before the goods leave origin, so most open points are settled before the goods arrive.
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.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
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.