Basel, Switzerland
Sea freight in Basel
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Basel, via Swiss Rhine ports in Basel. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Basel
- AirportEuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse
BSL - AirportZurich
ZRH - SeaportSwiss Rhine ports in Basel
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) lies on French soil but has a Swiss customs sector connected to Basel by a dedicated customs road, so goods can be cleared for Switzerland or the EU depending on which sector they use. Zurich (ZRH) offers more long-haul belly capacity. The Swiss Rhine ports in Basel-Kleinhüningen, Birsfelden and Muttenz are Switzerland's gateway for sea freight, with barges and rail connecting them with Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Basel lies at the junction of Switzerland, Germany and France, connected to the Swiss A2 and A3 motorways and to the German A5 and French A35. The Swiss Rhine ports link Basel with the North Sea by barge, and Basel's rail yards connect Rhine traffic with the Swiss rail network and the Gotthard corridor.
Operational logistics facts for Basel
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (BSL), Swiss sector | Air freight with Swiss customs clearance | Swiss clearance close to the Basel pharma cluster |
| Swiss Rhine ports Basel | Containers by barge from Rotterdam and Antwerp | Sea freight delivered directly into Switzerland |
| Pharma and life sciences cluster | Medicines, active ingredients and clinical trial material | Temperature-controlled routings and OBC |
Industries in Basel and how we support them
Basel is a global centre of pharma and life sciences: Novartis and Roche are headquartered here, alongside Lonza, Syngenta and many biotech and chemical companies. Shipments include temperature-sensitive medicines, active ingredients, clinical trial material and chemicals. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight through our airline network via BSL or ZRH, temperature-controlled routings, On-Board Courier for clinical material, sea freight via the Rhine ports, and customs clearance by our own customs team in Switzerland, including the correct procedure for the EuroAirport's Swiss sector.
FCL and LCL via Swiss Rhine ports in Basel
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Basel to Swiss Rhine ports in Basel, or on-carriage after arrival, is arranged by road or rail as part of the same booking.
Customs clearance in Switzerland
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Switzerland is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Air freight to and from Switzerland is booked through our carrier network.
Importers in Switzerland need a Swiss business identification number (UID) and, for VAT, registration with the Federal Tax Administration where applicable.
Frequently asked questions
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Basel?
Usually Swiss Rhine ports in Basel. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.