Switzerland
Air freight, sea freight and customs in St. Gallen
Eastern Switzerland around St. Gallen is known for technical textiles, machinery and medtech.
Services in St. Gallen
- Air freight in St. GallenAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in St. GallenFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in St. GallenImport 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 St. Gallen
- AirportZurich
ZRH - SeaportSea freight via Rotterdam or Basel
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the main air gateway for St. Gallen and eastern Switzerland, reached via the A1, with long-haul belly capacity on passenger flights. For freighter capacity, shipments can be routed via a European freighter hub such as Frankfurt. Sea freight arrives via Rotterdam and the Swiss Rhine ports in Basel, or via Hamburg, with onward rail or road transport. The proximity to Germany and Austria around Lake Constance also allows cross-border routings.
The A1 links St. Gallen with Zurich and continues to the border with Austria near St. Margrethen. The region around Lake Constance borders Germany and Austria, with road crossings used for freight, and rail links connect St. Gallen with Zurich and the Rhine valley.
Industries in St. Gallen and how we support them
Eastern Switzerland around St. Gallen is known for textiles, especially technical textiles and embroidery, machinery and medtech. Bühler, a maker of food processing and industrial machinery, is headquartered in nearby Uzwil, and many mid-sized precision engineering and medtech firms are active in the region. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight through our airline network via ZRH, Next Flight Out for machinery spare parts, sea freight via the Rhine and North Sea ports, and customs clearance by our own customs team in Switzerland, including cross-border shipments with Germany and Austria.
Operational logistics facts for St. Gallen
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Long-haul belly cargo | Main air gateway for eastern Switzerland |
| Border crossings to Austria and Germany | Cross-border road freight | Short routes to EU customers and suppliers |
| Textiles and machinery cluster | Technical textiles, embroidery and machine parts | NFO for urgent machinery parts |
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 airport do you use for St. Gallen shipments?
Most air freight from St. Gallen goes via Zurich (ZRH). For heavy pieces requiring a freighter, we route via a European freighter hub such as Frankfurt. We compare options with each booking.
Can you ship machinery spare parts from eastern Switzerland urgently?
Yes. We offer Next Flight Out on the first available flight with export customs prepared in parallel, or an On-Board Courier for smaller critical parts.
Do you collect in St. Gallen, Uzwil and the Rhine valley?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in St. Gallen, Uzwil, Wil and the St. Gallen Rhine valley through trusted road partners and deliver to Zurich Airport.
How are shipments from St. Gallen to Germany or Austria cleared?
Switzerland is not in the EU customs union, so goods need a Swiss export declaration and EU import clearance. Our own customs team prepares the Swiss side via Passar and coordinates the EU import documents.
Can Swiss textiles enter the EU duty-free?
Under the EU-Switzerland free trade agreement, textiles with preferential Swiss origin can enter the EU duty-free if the origin rules are met and the origin statement is correct. We check the documents before export.
What does an eastern Swiss importer need for clearance?
A Swiss UID number and, where applicable, VAT registration with the Federal Tax Administration. We file the declaration with FOCBS and check tariff and VAT.