United Kingdom
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Belfast
Northern Ireland follows special customs rules under the Windsor Framework, which affect goods moving between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU.
Services in Belfast
- Air freight in BelfastAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in BelfastFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in BelfastImport 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 Belfast
- AirportBelfast International
BFS - AirportBelfast City
BHD - SeaportBelfast Harbour
Belfast International Airport (BFS) at Aldergrove is Northern Ireland's main cargo airport, with express and freighter traffic, while George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), close to the harbour, serves mainly passenger routes. Dublin Airport (DUB) in the Republic of Ireland is reached by motorway and offers long-haul belly capacity, though goods then cross a customs boundary. For sea freight, Belfast Harbour handles ferry, ro-ro and container traffic, with frequent links to Great Britain.
The M1 runs south-west from Belfast and the A1 continues towards the border and Dublin. The M2 leads north towards Antrim and Belfast International Airport. Belfast Harbour has ferry and ro-ro links to Scotland and England, carrying the trailers that move most goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Industries in Belfast and how we support them
Belfast has a long aerospace history, with aerostructures and wing production in east Belfast, and a defence sector that includes missile systems manufacturing. Agri-food is a major exporter, with dairy, meat and processed food producers across Northern Ireland. Technology and cybersecurity firms are growing in the city. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight via Belfast International or Dublin under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for aerospace parts, sea freight through Belfast Harbour, and in-house customs clearance that takes account of the Windsor Framework.
Operational logistics facts for Belfast
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast International Airport (BFS) | Express and freighter traffic | Northern Ireland's main air cargo gateway |
| Belfast Harbour | Ro-ro, ferries, containers | Frequent sailings to Great Britain for trailers and containers |
| East Belfast aerospace sector | Aerostructures, wing production | Urgent parts support by NFO and OBC |
| Northern Ireland agri-food | Dairy, meat, processed food | Exports needing correct customs and sanitary documents |
Customs clearance in the United Kingdom
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in the United Kingdom is handled by our own in-house customs team.
For air freight to and from the United Kingdom we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United Kingdom need a GB EORI number issued by HMRC.
Frequently asked questions
Do you use Belfast International or Dublin for air freight?
Belfast International (BFS) is the main cargo airport in Northern Ireland. Dublin (DUB) offers more long-haul options, but goods cross a customs boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which must be documented. We compare routings and confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can you ship aerospace parts from Belfast quickly?
Yes. We use Next Flight Out on the first available flight or an On-Board Courier for critical aerospace parts. We check dimensions, dangerous-goods status and any export licence requirement before collection.
Can you collect anywhere in Northern Ireland?
Yes. We arrange pick-up across Northern Ireland and truck freight to Belfast International or, where suitable, to Dublin or Great Britain. The air waybill is issued by us, so the shipment stays in one file.
How does the Windsor Framework affect goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland applies EU customs rules for goods. Goods from Great Britain that stay in Northern Ireland can use the green lane under the UK Internal Market Scheme when the trader is authorised; other goods use the red lane with a full customs declaration. Our own customs team advises on which applies.
Do I need a special EORI number for Northern Ireland?
Businesses trading goods into or out of Northern Ireland may need an EORI number starting with XI in addition to their GB EORI number. We check which identifiers are required for your shipments before we file declarations.
Can you clear goods from outside the UK and EU arriving in Belfast?
Yes. We prepare the import declaration in-house. Because EU customs rules apply in Northern Ireland, duty may depend on whether goods are at risk of moving into the EU. We review your situation and file the declaration accordingly.