Germany is the most important fulfilment market in the EU. It is also one of the most compliance-intensive. This briefing covers the market structure, the logistics infrastructure, and the legal prerequisites any non-EU brand must satisfy before the first pallet ships.
Download the Germany 3PL List →Germany functions as the distribution backbone of continental Europe. Frankfurt Airport handles more cargo than any other European hub outside of Amsterdam. Hamburg and Bremen handle over 40% of Germany's seaborne trade. The motorway network connects every major EU population centre within a 24-hour truck transit window.
For brands building a pan-European fulfilment operation, a German warehouse is often the logical first node. Stock positioned in Germany can reach Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France in one to two days. Poland, the Czech Republic, and Scandinavia add one to two days more.
The language barrier is a genuine operational constraint. English-language account management is standard among national and international operators but narrows significantly below that tier. Most capable regional 3PLs operate entirely in German, which creates a search and negotiation problem for non-EU brands without German-speaking operations staff.
Germany has several thousand operational 3PLs. The majority are small or family-owned firms serving regional markets, often employing fewer than 50 people. A few hundred qualify as mid-sized regional operators. At the top, a small number of large nationals and global operators control a disproportionate share of revenue.
For non-EU brands, the relevant segment is narrower than the overall market suggests. Providers need English-language operations, familiarity with cross-border inbound customs, and ecommerce platform integrations as standard. That narrows the realistic shortlist considerably.
EuroSOR's Germany 3PL file includes vetted operators across each tier, mapped against these criteria. The file is updated quarterly and covers providers from ecommerce-native fulfilment centres to contract logistics operators with cross-border inbound infrastructure.
Operators mapped by hub location, minimum volumes, ecommerce integrations, and non-EU inbound capability. Updated quarterly.
Confirm the VAT, customs and product obligations for the legal seller and importer before launch. A 3PL may coordinate selected services, but a warehouse contract alone does not transfer these legal responsibilities.
| Requirement | What it involves | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| German VAT registration | Holding your own saleable inventory in Germany, including Amazon FBA stock, generally requires German VAT registration and local reporting. Union OSS covers eligible cross-border B2C sales, not imports, stock transfers or ordinary domestic sales. Non-EU businesses can register directly; a fiscal representative is not a general requirement. | Before stock ships |
| VAT adviser / optional fiscal representation | A German tax adviser can assist with registration and filings. Statutory fiscal representation under section 22a UStG is optional and restricted to eligible businesses making exclusively exempt German transactions with no input VAT deduction. It is not the normal route for taxable ecommerce sales. | Assess before launch |
| GPSR Responsible Person | Mandatory since 13 December 2024. Any non-EU brand placing consumer products on the EU market must appoint an EU-established Responsible Person. Their name and contact details must appear on the product or packaging. Amazon and major marketplaces now enforce this before listings go live in EU stores. | Before first sale |
| EORI number | Identify which parties require EORI registration for the chosen customs procedure. An EORI issued by one EU member state is valid throughout the EU; a separate German EORI is not required. Non-EU operators register when the customs rules require it for their role. | Before first inbound |
| Importer of Record | Agree the importer, customs declarant and representation model with the customs broker before shipping. The declarant generally must be EU-established; a non-EU importer can usually use an EU-established indirect representative. Customs liability and entitlement to deduct import VAT are separate questions, and VAT registration alone does not guarantee recovery. | Before first inbound |
| VerpackG / LUCID registration | Germany's Packaging Act requires registration in the LUCID Packaging Register before your first sale in Germany. This is your brand's obligation. Your 3PL does not handle it. Marketplaces are increasingly requiring LUCID numbers from sellers before listing approval. | Before first sale |
A 3PL contract covers receiving, storage, pick and pack, carrier handover, and returns. Additional customs, VAT or product compliance services depend on the agreed scope.
Before launch, identify the legal seller, importer, customs representative and responsible product compliance party. A Seller of Record arrangement is one commercial option, not a statutory requirement for every non-EU brand.
EuroSOR can act as the EU Seller of Record for agreed sales channels, issuing customer invoices and managing the applicable VAT and settlement flow. Importer of Record and product compliance support are scoped separately, directly or through named specialist partners where required. Your 3PL handles physical operations.
Confirm the transaction flow and required registrations before stock moves. Learn how EuroSOR’s Seller of Record service works for Germany.