Bern, Switzerland
Sea freight in Bern
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Bern, via Sea freight via Rotterdam or Basel Rhine ports. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Bern
- AirportZurich
ZRH - AirportBern
BRN - SeaportSea freight via Rotterdam or Basel Rhine ports
Bern Airport (BRN) is a small airport without significant cargo services, so Bern companies ship by air mainly via Zurich (ZRH), the country's main cargo airport, or Geneva (GVA) for western Switzerland, depending on the destination. Sea freight for Bern arrives via Rotterdam and the Swiss Rhine ports in Basel, with onward rail or road transport into the Bernese Mittelland.
Bern lies at the meeting point of the A1 (Zurich, Lausanne), A6 (Thun) and A12 (Fribourg). The city is a central hub of the Swiss rail network, with rail freight links to Basel's Rhine ports and the Lötschberg route through the Alps.
Operational logistics facts for Bern
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Long-haul belly cargo | Main air gateway for Bern shippers |
| Swiss Rhine ports Basel | Containers by barge | Sea freight with rail delivery to Bern |
| Medtech and plasma products | Medical devices and temperature-sensitive medicines | Temperature-controlled routings and OBC |
Industries in Bern and how we support them
The Bern region combines medtech, precision engineering and the public sector as the seat of the Swiss federal government. CSL Behring produces plasma-derived medicines in Bern, and Ypsomed, a maker of injection systems, is based in nearby Burgdorf. Many mid-sized precision engineering firms are active in the Mittelland. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight through our airline network via ZRH or GVA, temperature-controlled routings for medical products, On-Board Courier, sea freight via Basel, and customs clearance by our own customs team in Switzerland.
From the port to your door in Bern
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Sea freight via Rotterdam or Basel Rhine ports, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Bern area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
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 Bern?
Usually Sea freight via Rotterdam or Basel Rhine ports. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.