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.
None of the following are handled by your 3PL. They are legal obligations that must be in place before stock crosses the German border. Getting them wrong after a warehouse contract is signed is expensive.
| Requirement | What it involves | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| German VAT registration | Storing inventory in Germany, including temporarily via Amazon FBA, creates a VAT registration obligation. Non-EU companies must also appoint a fiscal representative jointly liable for filings. OSS registration in another EU member state does not replace this. | Before stock ships |
| Fiscal representative | Non-EU businesses cannot self-register for German VAT. A locally established fiscal representative must be appointed. They are jointly liable for your VAT obligations and are a required part of the registration process. | Before stock ships |
| 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 | Required before any non-EU shipment can enter Germany. Used in all customs declarations. Without it, a freight forwarder cannot complete an import declaration on your behalf. | Before first inbound |
| Importer of Record | Agree in writing with your 3PL who acts as Importer of Record. This determines how import VAT is declared, who can reclaim it, and how quickly stock is released from customs hold. | 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 physical operations: receiving, storage, pick and pack, carrier handover, and returns. It does not cover the legal and compliance layer that makes those operations valid under EU and German law.
That layer covers VAT registration, fiscal representation, GPSR Responsible Person appointment, EORI setup, and the Seller of Record structure that determines who is the legal entity of record for transactions in Germany. For non-EU brands, setting this up is a prerequisite, not a post-launch task.
EuroSOR operates as the EU Seller of Record for non-EU brands entering Germany and the wider European market. Rather than arranging fiscal representation, GPSR appointment, and EORI separately, EuroSOR consolidates the legal and compliance layer into a single managed structure. Your 3PL handles the physical operations. EuroSOR handles what makes those operations legally valid.
The correct sequence is to establish the compliance structure before signing a warehouse contract, not after. Learn how EuroSOR's Seller of Record service works for brands entering Germany.