Transport Switzerland Germany

Excellence Global Logistics manages your freight on the Germany–Switzerland route by road, rail, or air freight, and can handle the entire process including customs clearance.

Switzerland is one of Germany’s most important trading partners, and for Switzerland, Germany is its single largest economic partner. As a freight forwarder specializing in the Germany–Switzerland route, we know the specifics of this trade from daily practice.

Around a quarter of all Swiss imports come from Germany. Despite this close economic relationship, the route crosses a real customs border: Switzerland is not an EU member, every consignment requires a full customs declaration, and Swiss import regulations apply independently of EU law.

Transport Routes Germany–Switzerland

Road Freight

Road freight is the most widely used mode of transport in bilateral trade. The main border crossings are in the Basel area. Most German industrial and logistics hubs are well connected via the A5 and A3 motorways.

A key cost factor is the Performance-Related Heavy Vehicle Fee (LSVA). Switzerland levies this weight- and distance-based charge on all journeys within the Swiss road network. We factor it into our pricing so you can plan with confidence.

Because Switzerland is not an EU member, every consignment requires a full customs declaration. We handle export clearance in Germany and import clearance in Switzerland. When we prepare the documentation in advance, your shipment crosses the border without delays.

We transport full loads and groupage shipments, and coordinate collection dates directly with your warehouse or production facility. For time-critical deliveries, we offer direct and express transport on this route.

Air Freight

For time-critical and high-value shipments, we arrange air freight through Switzerland’s three major cargo airports.

• Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the largest cargo hub and the natural gateway for many shipments from northern and central Germany.
• EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL/MLH/EAP) sits at the tripoint border and serves the entire Upper Rhine region, covering parts of southern Germany, Alsace, and northwestern Switzerland.
• Geneva Airport (GVA) is primarily relevant for companies in western Switzerland.

Air freight is particularly in demand for pharmaceutical and medical device products, electronics, and spare parts that need to reach the recipient quickly. We transport temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments in compliance with GDP requirements with an unbroken cold chain.

For especially urgent individual shipments, we book the next available flight (Next Flight Out) or deploy an on-board courier. As an air freight forwarder, we handle the complete process including air waybills, export customs, and delivery to the consignee.

Industries in Germany–Switzerland Trade

Pharma and Chemicals

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is the largest product category in Swiss foreign trade, with Germany as its closest partner. The Basel region — home to companies such as Novartis, Roche, and Lonza — is one of the most concentrated pharmaceutical hubs in the world, which significantly shapes freight traffic on this route. Many shipments are temperature-controlled, subject to GDP documentation requirements, and inflexible on delivery timelines.

We transport pharmaceutical products and active ingredients in compliance with applicable GDP standards, and reliably coordinate customs clearance and documentation.

Medical Devices

Switzerland is one of the world’s leading medtech locations. Around half of Swiss medtech exports go to the EU, and nearly 60 percent of Switzerland’s medtech imports come from the EU.

Germany is a leading supplier in this trade, with diagnostic systems, implants, surgical consumables, and high-value medical equipment all changing hands.

For these shipments, customs clearance and compliance documentation are just as critical as transport quality. Switzerland is not an EU member; medical devices are subject to their own Swiss requirements, which must be correctly addressed at import and export.

Excellence Global Logistics handles the complete process including all required accompanying documentation, with an optional White Glove Service for your medical equipment.

Machinery and Equipment

Germany is Switzerland’s largest supplier of industrial and capital goods. In the other direction, Switzerland exports high-value machinery, precision equipment, and specialized devices to Germany. Both directions have their own requirements: machinery shipments from Germany to Switzerland are often project-based and time-critical, while Swiss precision machines demand careful handling and frequently require specific packaging specifications.

We arrange partial and full truckload shipments for machinery and equipment, coordinate customs clearance at the Swiss border, and ensure your delivery arrives on schedule.

Vehicles and Vehicle Parts

The vehicle and parts trade is one of the highest-volume categories in Germany–Switzerland commerce. German automakers and suppliers continuously serve the Swiss market, while spare parts and components flow in both directions. In automotive spare parts logistics in particular, short lead times and reliable delivery are essential.

We transport vehicle parts as individual shipments and groupage consignments, and are well versed in the requirements of automotive supply chains.

Precision Goods and Electronics

Watches, precision mechanics, measurement and laboratory technology: Switzerland is globally renowned for high-value, low-weight precision goods. These products place particular demands on security, handling, and insurance. At the same time, Switzerland imports substantial volumes of electronics and components from Germany for further processing in Swiss industry.

For high-value small shipments and express deliveries in this segment, we offer suitable transport solutions — by road or air freight, depending on the time frame and shipment type.

Germany–Switzerland Trade in Numbers

In the first five months of 2026, total trade between the two countries reached €56 billion, up from €55 billion in the same period the previous year. German exports to Switzerland showed particularly strong growth, rising from €31 billion to €34 billion. German imports from Switzerland stood at €22 billion, €2 billion less than the prior year.

The trade balance thus falls in favor of German exports, reinforcing the route’s character as a strong export corridor for German businesses.

This trade is driven primarily by chemicals and pharma, machinery and equipment, vehicles, and precision goods. On a non-EU route such as Switzerland, these product categories place specific demands on transport, customs clearance, and documentation that must be consistently met.

Excellence Global Logistics handles complete transport management for your business — from collection through border crossing to delivery at the consignee’s premises.