Specialists in imports & exports
by air and sea freight: Japan
Japan, the land of the rising sun, remains one of the world’s major economies and an important exporting nation. International trade with Japan plays a significant role in global supply chains.
SATS Logistics is your reliable partner for transport between Germany and Japan. Shipments to and from the island nation frequently use sea freight. We are equally available when you need to move goods by air freight to or from Japan. Our support extends beyond exports and imports. Naturally, we can also assist with relocations to or from Japan, coordinating the complete process for a well-organised move.
Transport solutions from Hokkaido to Kyushu
We work with established partners in Japan. Our presence extends to the major metropolitan area of Tokyo and to Osaka, another principal commercial centre. The Tokyo and Osaka–Kyoto–Kobe regions together account for a large share of Japan’s population and business activity, so many transport requirements involve these areas. We can also serve other regions, from Sapporo on Hokkaido in the north to Fukuoka on Kyushu in the south.
Our partners help us provide flexible solutions tailored to your requirements at fair prices. Our services go beyond transport alone. We aim to offer complete support, including door-to-door delivery, customs clearance and the relevant formalities. As Japanese businesses, our local partners are familiar with the country’s procedures and operating conditions.
Benefit from our logistics expertise
We will be happy to discuss and advise on your transport requirements involving Japan. Simply use our contact form, call us or send us an email. We will get back to you promptly. If you already know the requirements for your export, import or relocation, we can prepare a specific quotation quickly.
Japan’s economy: historical figures from 2013–2014
- with GDP of US$4.9 trillion in 2014, Japan ranked third worldwide behind the United States and the People’s Republic of China in the historical comparison;
- Japan’s foreign trade in 2013 comprised imports of US$833 billion and exports of US$715 billion;
- the historical profile described imports as strongly influenced by energy commodities and food, while vehicles, electronics and machinery dominated exports;
- most trade in that profile involved the United States and East Asian neighbours. Trade with the EU was smaller by comparison: imports from the EU were €54 billion in 2013 and exports to the EU €57 billion;
- Germany accounted for approximately one-third of each of those EU trade flows in the historical profile.
Major airports and seaports:
| Airport / seaport | IATA code / UN/LOCODE | City served |
| Kansai International Airport | KIX | Osaka |
| Tokyo Narita Airport | NRT | Tokyo |
| Chūbu Centrair International Airport | NGO | Nagoya |
| Fukuoka Airport | FUK | Fukuoka |
| Shizuoka Airport | FSZ | Makinohara / Shimada |
| Port of Kobe | JP UKB | Kobe |
| Port of Nagoya | JP NGO | Nagoya |
| Port of Osaka | JP OSA | Osaka |
| Port of Tokyo | JP TYO | Tokyo |
| Port of Yokohama | JP YOK | Yokohama |
01. Need a quotation?
Benefit from our experience in transport to and from Japan.
Our extensive network in Japan and competitive terms make us a strong partner.
02. What do you need?
Germany–Japan trade route: seaports, air-cargo gateways and transit times
Sea freight between Germany and Japan mainly connects the Japanese ports of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kobe with the German North Range ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven. As an indicative planning range, the sea passage takes approximately five to eight weeks, depending on the service loop and transshipment arrangements. Routing around the Cape of Good Hope instead of through the Suez Canal can move transit times towards the upper end of that range; confirm the actual route and schedule for each shipment. We consolidate your goods as full container loads (FCL) (German) or less-than-container loads (LCL) (German) and advise on the right container size (German). For urgent cargo, the fastest option is generally air freight. Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) provide connections to Frankfurt (FRA). A pure flight time of around 14 hours is one planning example; actual capacity, schedules and the complete door-to-door lead time must be confirmed. You can obtain a non-binding sea freight estimate using our sea freight price calculator (German).
Customs for Japan: preference under the EU–Japan EPA
Japan remains a third country (German) for EU customs purposes, but the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) can reduce or eliminate duty where the goods meet its origin requirements. A claim may be based on a statement on origin on a commercial document or, where supported by the necessary records, on the importer’s knowledge. The agreement does not use EUR.1 movement certificates. For EU export consignments with originating goods valued above €6,000, the exporter making a statement on origin must be registered in the Registered Exporter System (REX). Below the applicable threshold, a statement can be made without REX registration. Japanese exporters identify their statements using the relevant Japanese corporate number, subject to the agreement’s requirements. For customs declarations in Germany, you need a valid EORI number (German). Our team manages the complete customs clearance (German) process, including the correct commodity code (German).
Frequently asked questions
How long does sea transport from Japan to Germany take?
For shipments from Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka or Kobe to Hamburg or Bremerhaven, allow an indicative sea transit time of approximately five to eight weeks. The actual duration depends on the selected service, intermediate calls and routing, including any diversion around the Cape of Good Hope.
Do I need an EUR.1 certificate for preferential imports from Japan?
No. The EU–Japan EPA does not use EUR.1 certificates. Preference can be claimed using a statement on origin on an invoice or another commercial document, or on the basis of the importer’s knowledge when the required supporting information is held. EU exporters making a statement for originating goods above €6,000 generally need REX registration.
Does import VAT apply to goods imported from Japan?
A preferential origin claim and a reduced or zero customs duty do not automatically remove import VAT. Import VAT may still be payable under the applicable rules; businesses entitled to deduct input VAT can generally claim it subject to those rules.
Phone: +49 (0)89 1250 30 790