Visual checkpoints for Importing from China to Germany
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Buyer planning
A practical view of the sourcing work behind this page.
Supplier options
Details buyers can review before they compare supplier options.
Document review
China-side coordination evidence organized for clearer decisions.
Shipping route
Operational details that help reduce avoidable sourcing mistakes.
Import handoff
Preparation notes for production, packing, or shipment follow-up.
The process in one paragraph
Importing from China to Germany runs on EU machinery with German precision. You need an EORI number (issued nationally, valid EU-wide), your product's TARIC commodity code (it sets the duty, charged on the CIF value), and a plan for Import Turnover Tax (EUSt, normally 19%). Around those sit the phases every lane shares: classify, source and verify, order and produce with inspection, ship, and clear — where German customs adds its own reputation for doing things exactly by the book.
Educational guide, not customs or tax advice: EU tariff, VAT, and product rules evolve — confirm current requirements for your product with the EU Access2Markets portal, German customs (Zoll), or a customs agent before pricing an order.
The three foundations, before any order
| Foundation | What it is | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| EORI number | Your customs identity — one registration, valid across the entire EU. | Apply through the national customs authority (in Germany, via Zoll's portal); free. |
| TARIC code | The EU tariff line that sets duty and attaches any measures. | EU TARIC database — the HS classification method applies unchanged. |
| VAT position (EUSt) | 19% standard import tax (7% reduced for goods like books and food), recoverable as input tax for registered businesses. | German VAT registration; deferment arrangements ease the timing. |
Duty and VAT: the German cost stack
| Layer | Typical scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (EU Common External Tariff) | 0% to ~12–17% by product | Charged on CIF value: goods + insurance + freight — the base is bigger than the invoice. |
| Import Turnover Tax (EUSt) | 19% standard / 7% reduced | On customs value plus duty; recoverable as input tax for VAT-registered businesses. |
| Anti-dumping measures | Case by case — sometimes dramatic | Classic China-origin examples: bicycles and e-bikes. Check TARIC for your exact code. |
Small-parcel note: at writing, consignments under €150 still enter duty-free — but VAT applies from the first euro (typically via IOSS for e-commerce), and the EU has been moving to abolish the €150 duty relief. Don't build a business model on a threshold that's scheduled for demolition; the US already removed its China-lane equivalent — see the USA guide's de minimis section.
Run the full math — CIF base, duty, EUSt on the duty-inclusive total — in the Landed Cost Calculator.
The eight steps, supplier to delivery
1. Register and classify
EORI first, TARIC code second — duty rates, measures, and paperwork all hang from that line.
2. Verify the supplier
License scope, capability, identity — how to verify Chinese suppliers before any deposit.
3. Order on clear terms
Agree the Incoterm (FOB vs CIF vs DDP) — and remember EU duty is charged on CIF value regardless of the term you buy on.
4. Settle CE compliance before production
Germany's market surveillance is among the EU's most active. The Declaration of Conformity, technical file, and correct labeling are production decisions — the full method is in the CE Marking Guide.
5. Produce and inspect
Pre-shipment inspection while rework is possible — Hamburg is a bad place to discover defects.
6. Ship by the right mode
Ocean to the North Sea ports ~30–40 days, China–Europe rail to German terminals ~15–20 days, air under a week — see Sea vs Air Freight.
7. Clear German customs
Declaration filed, duty paid on CIF, EUSt assessed — clean documents typically clear in 1–3 business days; mismatches meet German thoroughness.
8. Deliver and keep records
Final-mile to your warehouse — with records retained, because importer and CE obligations outlive the shipment.
The documents German customs expects
| Document | Purpose | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Value basis for duty and EUSt | Incoterms and origin stated; consistency across documents — how to read one. |
| Packing list | Physical contents, weights, marks | Must match the cartons — German inspections check. |
| Bill of lading / AWB | Transport contract and cargo control | Who holds the original controls the goods. |
| CE documentation | Declaration of Conformity + technical file access | Model numbers must match the goods; market surveillance can ask years later. |
| Certificate of origin | Origin proof where measures require it | Ask before shipment, not after. |
The China side of a German import, handled
German customs and market surveillance test decisions made weeks earlier in China: the supplier's identity, the product facts behind the TARIC line, the CE documentation, the inspection before loading. LIFA covers that ground from Hangzhou — verification, inspection, and shipping preparation. German-lane buyer support is outlined on the Germany importers page, and the sister lanes are covered in the USA, UK, and UAE guides.
Mistakes this guide prevents
- Calculating duty on the invoice price. The EU base is CIF — goods plus insurance plus freight.
- Treating CE as shipping paperwork. In Germany especially, the technical file question arrives after sale, from market surveillance — be able to answer it.
- Ignoring anti-dumping lists. On affected products they dwarf normal duty; one TARIC lookup prevents the surprise.
- Building on the €150 relief. VAT already applies from the first euro, and the duty relief is on the chopping block.
Related guides for the German lane.
The deeper guides behind each step of a German import.
CE Marking Guide
The compliance mark German market surveillance actually enforces.
Read the guide 🧭Importing from China to the UK
The post-Brexit sister lane — EORI, VAT, and UKCA differences.
Read the guide 💡Importing from China to the USA
The US lane — tariff stacks, entry types, and the de minimis change.
Read the guide 📚Knowledge Center Hub
All fourteen categories of the trade library in one map.
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Importing to Germany, answered simply.
The questions German-lane buyers ask most.
Three foundations: an EORI number (issued by your national customs authority and valid across the whole EU), the correct TARIC commodity code for your product (it sets the duty), and clarity on CE marking obligations for your product category before production starts.
Duty follows the EU Common External Tariff by TARIC code — commonly 0% to around 12–17% depending on the product — and is calculated on the CIF value: goods plus insurance plus freight. Anti-dumping measures on specific China-origin products (bicycles and e-bikes are classic examples) can add far more, so always check your exact code in TARIC.
Germany charges Import Turnover Tax (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer, EUSt) at the standard 19% — 7% for reduced-rate goods like books and food — on the customs value plus duty. VAT-registered businesses generally recover it as input tax, and various deferment arrangements can ease the cash-flow timing.
For covered product categories — electronics, toys, machinery, PPE and more — yes: CE marking with its Declaration of Conformity and technical file is a legal precondition for the EU market. The importer must verify the documentation exists and matches the product; own-brand importers take on the manufacturer's obligations themselves.
At the time of writing, customs duty relief still applies to consignments under €150 — but VAT applies from the first euro (since 2021, typically collected via IOSS for e-commerce parcels), and the EU has been moving to abolish the €150 duty relief. Check the current status before building a business model on it.
Ocean freight to North Sea ports typically runs around 30–40 days, China–Europe rail roughly 15–20 days to German terminals, and air freight under a week. German customs clearance itself usually takes 1–3 business days when documents are complete and no inspection is triggered.
Sourcing for the German market? Get the China side airtight.
Send your product details and target timeline. LIFA verifies the supplier, checks the CE documentation against the physical goods, coordinates inspection before loading, and prepares documents that match the cargo — German-customs clean.
