Liverpool, United Kingdom
Customs clearance in Liverpool
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Liverpool. Customs clearance in the United Kingdom is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Industries in Liverpool and how we support them
Merseyside has a strong automotive presence, with Jaguar Land Rover at Halewood and Stellantis at Ellesmere Port on the Wirral. Speke and the wider city region host vaccine and biologics manufacturing, and the port supports agri-food, metals and bulk trades. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with sea freight FCL and LCL through the Port of Liverpool, air freight via Manchester under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for automotive line-down parts and life-science samples, and in-house customs clearance for imports and exports through the port.
Operational logistics facts for Liverpool
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Liverpool (Liverpool2, Seaforth) | Deep-sea containers, transatlantic trades | Direct container services to North America landing on the west coast of the UK |
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | Long-haul belly air freight | Nearest intercontinental airport for urgent Merseyside shipments |
| Halewood and Ellesmere Port | Automotive production and supplier parks | Line-down support with NFO and OBC directly to the plant |
| Speke life-science cluster | Vaccines and biologics | Temperature-controlled air freight booked with pharma-capable airlines |
Airports, seaports and connections in Liverpool
- AirportManchester
MAN - AirportLiverpool
LPL - SeaportPort of Liverpool
The Port of Liverpool is the city's main freight gateway. Its deep-water Liverpool2 terminal at Seaforth handles large container ships, and the port is a key UK entry point for transatlantic trade with North America as well as for Irish Sea traffic. For air freight, Manchester Airport (MAN) is the main long-haul option, reached by motorway, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) at Speke serves mainly passenger traffic with limited cargo.
The M62 links Liverpool with Manchester, Leeds and Hull, the M57 and M58 serve the port and the northern docks, and the M53 runs through the Wirral towards Ellesmere Port and the M56. The port is rail-connected, with container trains to inland terminals across the UK, and the Manchester Ship Canal links the Mersey with Port Salford. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Merseyside, the Wirral and West Lancashire.
Clearance by our own team in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom our own customs team files the declarations. Questions about classification, valuation or missing documents are answered directly by the people who prepare the entry, without a third party in between.
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.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Can you clear containers arriving at the Port of Liverpool?
Yes. Our own customs team files the import declaration with HMRC through CDS and coordinates release with the terminal. We need your GB EORI number, the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, then arrange haulage or rail to your premises.
Do you handle export declarations for goods leaving Liverpool by sea?
Yes. We prepare export declarations in-house for containers leaving via Liverpool, which gives you the export evidence needed for VAT purposes. If goods are controlled, for example dual-use items, we check the licensing requirement before booking.
Is Liverpool part of a freeport?
Yes, Liverpool City Region has a designated freeport with customs sites. Using freeport customs procedures requires the relevant authorisations and an operator inside the customs site. We can discuss whether this applies to your goods and prepare the declarations accordingly.