United Kingdom
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Nottingham
Nottingham is minutes from East Midlands, the UK's main express cargo airport.
Services in Nottingham
- Air freight in NottinghamAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in NottinghamFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in NottinghamImport 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 Nottingham
- AirportEast Midlands
EMA - SeaportFelixstowe
East Midlands Airport (EMA), between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, is the UK's main express cargo airport and the hub for several integrators and freighter operators. For Nottingham businesses this means main-deck and express capacity close by. Long-haul belly cargo is available via Heathrow or Manchester. Nottingham has no seaport; most containers move via Felixstowe, with Immingham on the Humber and Southampton as alternatives.
The M1 runs to the west of Nottingham and passes East Midlands Airport, which is also linked to the city by the A52 and A453. East Midlands Gateway, next to the airport, is a strategic rail freight interchange, so containers from the deep-sea ports can arrive by rail beside the cargo airport. The A52 and A1 connect towards the A14 and Felixstowe. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Nottinghamshire, Derby and Leicester.
Industries in Nottingham and how we support them
Nottingham is known for healthcare and pharmacy retail, with Boots headquartered in the city, and for life-science companies and BioCity. The wider East Midlands includes Rolls-Royce aero engines in Derby, Toyota at Burnaston and a broad manufacturing base. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight via East Midlands, Heathrow or Manchester under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for urgent engine and automotive parts, temperature-controlled pharma shipments, sea freight via Felixstowe, and in-house customs clearance for imports and exports.
Operational logistics facts for Nottingham
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands Airport (EMA) | Express and freighter operations | Main-deck and express capacity close to Nottingham |
| East Midlands Gateway rail freight interchange | Container rail next to the airport | Sea and air freight handled at one location |
| East Midlands Freeport | Customs sites around the airport | Potential customs advantages for authorised operators |
| Nottingham healthcare and life-science sector | Pharmacy, healthcare products, biotech | Temperature-controlled and documented air freight |
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 East Midlands Airport for Nottingham shipments?
Yes, East Midlands (EMA) is usually the first choice for express and freighter routings. For destinations served mainly by passenger aircraft we route via Heathrow or Manchester. We compare options for each consignment and confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can you ship pharma and healthcare products from Nottingham by air?
Yes. We book temperature-controlled options where required, prepare the documentation the product needs and agree packaging and handover with you. Air freight runs under our own air waybills, so the handling instructions are part of our booking.
Can you get engine or automotive parts to a customer abroad quickly?
Yes. For urgent parts from the East Midlands we use Next Flight Out on the first available flight, with customs pre-lodged, or an On-Board Courier who carries the part door to door. We check dimensions and dangerous-goods status before collection.
Can you clear imports arriving at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. Our own customs team files the declaration with HMRC in CDS. We need your GB EORI number, the commercial invoice and packing list, and the commodity code under the UK Global Tariff. With complete documents the declaration can be lodged before the aircraft arrives.
Can my business use the East Midlands Freeport?
Freeport customs benefits require an operator in a designated customs site and the relevant HMRC authorisations. We can explain the declaration requirements and prepare the customs entries once the site operator and your authorisation are in place.
Do medicines need extra documents at import?
Medicines and some healthcare products may need licences or authorisations from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in addition to the customs declaration. We check what is needed with you and include the references on the declaration.