Launch stock
Get samples, first production runs, and retail launch inventory into German warehouses before the selling window closes.
Last reviewed
Air freight · China → Germany
Air freight from China to Germany — priority and economy air into Frankfurt and Munich.
Move time-sensitive cargo from Shenzhen, Shanghai, or Hong Kong to Frankfurt and Munich. Chargeable weight calculated from measured cartons, ATLAS declaration and EU EORI coordinated, and 19% import VAT position confirmed before booking.
3–7 daysdoor-to-door range
2 gatewaysGermany coverage
24hquote turnaround
1agent from pickup to delivery
3–5d
Airport-to-airport, priority
5–8d
Economy air service
2
German receiving gateways
1
Agent from pickup to delivery
Where air wins
Use air freight when the cost of waiting is higher than the freight line.
We compare priority, economy, and door-to-door options against your stockout date — not just the airport rate. On this lane rail is a genuine middle option.
High-value electronics
Consolidate smaller cartons with scan points at origin, linehaul, and final delivery. Battery paperwork reviewed before handoff, Frankfurt DG capacity available where needed.
Replenishment
Bridge a sea or rail gap with a right-sized top-up, then return to the planned cadence when inventory is stable.
On this corridor
Beyond the flight — the German-side work we handle.
ATLAS declaration coordination
We coordinate the commercial invoice, packing list, TARIC classification, and broker handoff for the ATLAS declaration. Import VAT position confirmed before booking.
DDP to Germany
Import duty, 19% VAT, ATLAS declaration, and customs clearance included. Your cargo arrives cleared — no surprise invoices.
Frankfurt vs Munich
Frankfurt — one of Europe's largest cargo airports — for the widest capacity and dangerous-goods handling. Munich for southern Germany and Austria. We route against your delivery address.
EU-wide clearance
Once goods are in free circulation in Germany they move within the EU without further customs formality. We coordinate onward trucking to any EU destination.
Transit planner
Pick the service against the date you need the cargo.
Final transit depends on origin pickup, customs, commodity, and the receiving address. The comparison below is the planning range we quote against.
days
Documents & compliance
What German customs needs for an air shipment from China.
Germany applies the EU Union Customs Code and common tariff, with declarations filed through ATLAS. Import VAT is 19 percent and, unlike the UK's postponed accounting, is normally paid or deferred at import rather than postponed to a return — which changes how much cash the shipment ties up.
| Document | Filed by | When |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Shipper | With AWB |
| Packing List | Shipper | With AWB |
| Air Waybill (AWB) | Carrier / Prodoer | At departure |
| EU EORI number | Importer — mandatory | Before first import |
| ATLAS declaration | Broker — Prodoer coordinates | At import |
| TARIC commodity code | Broker — Prodoer | Before entry |
| EU common customs tariff duty | Importer | At entry |
| Import VAT 19% | Importer, deferment possible | At entry |
| ICS2 advance cargo data | Carrier | Pre-arrival |
| CE marking | Importer, product dependent | Before sale |
| Battery docs (UN38.3, SDS) | Shipper, if applicable | Before booking |
How it works
One air waybill. Four clear handoffs.
You see what is ready, what is moving, and what German customs still needs before the freight arrives.
01 — Prepare
Confirm EORI & cargo
We check your EU EORI, TARIC classification, dimensions, batteries, and the warehouse receiving window.
02 — Collect
Pickup & consolidate
Cartons are collected, photographed, weighed, and matched to the commercial invoice.
03 — Fly
Air waybill & track
Flight milestones and customs status sit in one tracking thread shared with your team.
04 — Deliver
Clear & hand over
We coordinate the ATLAS declaration, duty, import VAT, and final-mile delivery to your warehouse or 3PL.
FAQ
China → Germany air freight FAQ
Transit days, chargeable weight, Frankfurt vs Munich, duty and 19% VAT, batteries, and when express beats air. Don't see yours? An agent answers it in minutes.
How long does air freight take from China to Germany?
Airport to airport is 3–5 days on priority services and 5–8 days on economy. Door to door — including pickup, export handling, ATLAS declaration, and final-mile delivery — usually runs 7–12 days. The variable that moves it most is not the flight but the customs and delivery leg at destination.
How is chargeable weight calculated for air freight to Germany?
Air freight prices on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight calculated from carton dimensions. Light, bulky cargo almost always prices on volume, which is why an air quote given without your carton dimensions is unreliable. We recalculate from measured cartons at intake so the number does not move after collection.
Why Frankfurt for air cargo into Germany?
Frankfurt is one of Europe's largest cargo airports, with wide capacity including dangerous-goods handling and strong onward connections across Germany and the EU. Munich serves southern Germany and Austria with a capable secondary hub. We route against your delivery address rather than defaulting to one.
What duty and VAT apply on air freight to Germany?
Duty follows the EU common customs tariff based on your TARIC classification, the same rate you would pay entering any EU member state. German import VAT — Einfuhrumsatzsteuer — is 19 percent and, unlike the UK's postponed accounting, is generally paid or deferred at import rather than postponed to a return. Under DDP we settle both and quote one landed number.
Can you ship lithium batteries by air to Germany?
Yes, when the shipment meets airline and IATA requirements. Send the battery type, watt-hour rating, MSDS, UN38.3 test summary, and packing details so we can confirm the lane before pickup. Frankfurt's dangerous-goods capacity makes it well-suited for compliant battery cargo, and Hong Kong offers wider carrier choice for the origin leg.
When is express shipping better than air freight?
For door-to-door parcels under roughly 200 kg, express courier (DHL, FedEx, or UPS) is usually cheaper and simpler — one tracking number, simplified customs, and no separate broker handoff. Above that threshold, consolidated air freight wins on per-kilo cost. We price both when a shipment is near the crossover; see the express page for the courier model.
China → Germany air freight
Get a China → Germany air-freight comparison in 24 hours.
Share the origin, destination, cargo, and target delivery date. We will return priority and economy options with the customs handoff spelled out.
Get a China → Germany air-freight comparison in 24 hours.
Share the origin, destination, cargo, and target delivery date. We will return priority and economy options with the customs handoff spelled out.