Sweden
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the heart of Swedish automotive and engineering exports and Scandinavia's main container port.
Services in Gothenburg
- Air freight in GothenburgAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in GothenburgFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in GothenburgImport 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 Gothenburg
- AirportGothenburg Landvetter
GOT - SeaportPort of GothenburgScandinavia's largest port
The Port of Gothenburg is Scandinavia's largest port and the main entry point for deep-sea container traffic into Sweden and much of the Nordic region, with direct services to Asia and other continents. Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT), east of the city, is Sweden's second airport and carries belly cargo on passenger flights to European hubs, with freighter capacity also available. Stockholm Arlanda and Copenhagen are used for long-haul routes not served from Gothenburg.
The E6 runs along the west coast from Oslo through Gothenburg towards Malmö, the E20 leads to Stockholm, and Road 40 connects the city with Landvetter Airport and Jönköping. The port operates rail shuttles to inland terminals across Sweden and Norway, so containers can move inland by rail directly from the quay. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Gothenburg, the Västra Götaland region and the west coast.
Industries in Gothenburg and how we support them
Gothenburg is the heart of Swedish automotive and engineering, with Volvo Cars at Torslanda, the Volvo Group's truck and engine operations, and SKF, the bearings manufacturer, headquartered in the city. A large supplier base, engineering firms and shipping companies complete the cluster. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with sea freight FCL and LCL through the Port of Gothenburg, air freight from Landvetter or Arlanda under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for line-down automotive parts, and in-house customs clearance for imports and exports.
Operational logistics facts for Gothenburg
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Gothenburg | Deep-sea containers, ro-ro, Nordic distribution | Scandinavia's largest port, with direct deep-sea services |
| Gothenburg port rail shuttles | Container rail to inland terminals | Containers moved inland by rail directly from the port |
| Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) | Belly and freighter cargo | Air freight departures on Sweden's west coast |
| Torslanda and Volvo Group sites | Cars, trucks, engines, bearings | Line-down support by NFO and OBC for production parts |
Customs clearance in Sweden
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Sweden is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from Sweden we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Sweden need an EORI number issued by Swedish Customs.
Frequently asked questions
Do you fly freight from Landvetter or truck it to another hub?
Both are possible. Landvetter (GOT) has belly and freighter capacity for many European and some long-haul routes. For other destinations we truck to Arlanda, Copenhagen or a continental hub. Air freight runs under our own air waybills, and we confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can you get urgent parts to an automotive plant in Gothenburg?
Yes. Inbound urgent parts can be booked on the first available flight into Landvetter or a nearby hub, with customs pre-lodged, or hand-carried by an On-Board Courier. We arrange delivery to the plant once the goods are released.
Do you collect from suppliers across the west coast region?
Yes. We arrange pick-up across Västra Götaland, including Borås, Trollhättan and the wider Gothenburg area, and truck freight to the departure airport or port.
Can you clear containers arriving at the Port of Gothenburg?
Yes. Our own customs team files the import declaration with Tullverket and coordinates release with the terminal. We need your EORI number, the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, then arrange delivery by truck or rail.
Do automotive imports into Sweden qualify for reduced duty?
Preferential duty may apply when goods originate in a country with an EU trade agreement and valid proof of origin is available. We check the origin documents and tariff code for your parts before declaring them.
Do you handle export declarations for Gothenburg manufacturers?
Yes. We prepare export declarations in-house for goods leaving via the port or Landvetter, providing the export evidence needed for VAT. Controlled items are checked for licence requirements before booking.