Your gateway into Germany. No local entity required.
Every shipment into Germany needs a legally registered EU importer on the customs declaration. PEC Global is that importer. We take full legal responsibility so your goods clear customs and enter Germany — whether or not you have a German company.
What is an Importer of Record — and why do you need one?
When goods cross into Germany from outside the EU, German customs law requires one party to be legally named on the import declaration as the responsible importer. This party is the Importer of Record.
The Importer of Record is not the carrier. It is not the freight forwarder. It is the legal entity that assumes full liability for the correct classification of goods, the payment of import duties, and compliance with all German and EU import regulations.
For non-EU companies — including US, UK, Canadian and Australian brands — this creates a problem. German law requires the Importer of Record to hold a valid EORI number issued in Germany. Without a German legal entity, a non-EU company cannot hold this EORI itself.
PEC Global solves this. We act as your official Importer of Record, hold the German EORI, and take on full legal accountability for every shipment we clear on your behalf.
IOR vs. no IOR
Germany is not just a destination. It is the entry point for all of Europe.
Once your goods clear German customs, they move freely to all 27 EU member states without any additional customs procedures. No re-importing. No re-clearing. One entry, one continent.
The logistics infrastructure
Germany sits at the center of European logistics. Hamburg and Bremerhaven handle the majority of EU-bound container traffic from the Americas. Frankfurt Airport is Europe's second-largest cargo hub. From Mettmann — where PEC Global operates — you have same-day access to the entire DACH region and next-day reach to the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Poland.
The commercial opportunity
Germany has the largest economy in the EU and the highest e-commerce spend per capita in continental Europe. For US brands, it is the single highest-value first market to enter. Establishing a compliant import route through a licensed Importer of Record is the first step — and once the route is open, scaling across the EU requires no additional customs setup.
What every US brand must know before importing to Germany
German and EU import regulations are specific, frequently updated, and strictly enforced. These are the requirements that affect every shipment.
EORI Number
Every importer into Germany must hold a valid Economic Operators Registration and Identification number issued by German customs. Non-EU companies cannot apply for a German EORI without a registered legal entity. PEC Global holds the EORI and files as the principal declarant on your behalf.
Import Duties
All goods entering Germany from outside the EU are subject to customs duties under the EU Common Customs Tariff. Rates depend on the product’s HS code and country of origin, ranging from 0% for most electronics to 12% for apparel. We calculate the exact duty for your product before your first shipment.
19% Import VAT
German import VAT of 19% applies to the customs value of all imported goods, including duties. It is separate from customs duties and paid at the point of import. For VAT-registered companies it can be reclaimed. PEC Global manages import VAT payment and advises on German VAT registration to enable reclaims.
GPSR Responsible Person
Since December 2024, every non-food product sold in the EU requires a designated EU Responsible Person — a physical entity within the EU accountable for product safety. Without one, products can be blocked at customs and removed from Amazon.de listings. PEC Global provides this as part of our IOR offering.
CE Marking
Many product categories sold in Germany require CE marking — electronics, machinery, medical devices and toys. CE marking is not a quality mark. It is a legal declaration that the product meets specific EU safety, health and environmental requirements. Goods without it can be stopped at the border or recalled.
Product Labeling
Products sold in Germany must comply with EU labeling rules. For most consumer goods this includes a German-language label with product name, manufacturer details, country of origin, material composition and safety warnings. Non-compliant labeling is among the most common reasons shipments are held at German customs.
From your US warehouse to Germany — cleared and delivered
Send us your shipment details
Before your goods leave the US, share the commercial invoice, packing list and product specifications. We classify the HS codes, calculate the exact import duties and VAT, and identify any compliance requirements — CE, GPSR, REACH — before your goods are in transit. No surprises at the border.
Goods depart the US
PEC Global coordinates with your freight forwarder or handles the freight directly. We prepare the full export documentation, confirm Incoterms and ensure the commercial invoice contains every field German customs requires. The customs declaration is ready before your shipment arrives.
Arrival at a German entry point
Your shipment arrives at Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt Airport or Düsseldorf Airport. PEC Global submits the ATLAS customs declaration immediately on arrival, named as Importer of Record. With complete documentation, clearance typically takes one to three business days.
Customs cleared — goods released
Once German customs releases the shipment, PEC Global notifies you immediately. Your goods are now legally inside the EU. If customs requests documentation or conducts an inspection, we manage the entire process in German on your behalf. You never interact with German customs.
Delivery to your destination
Released goods go wherever you need them — to our warehouse in Mettmann for storage and FBA prep, directly to an Amazon FBA fulfillment center, to your own German warehouse, or to your existing logistics partner. No obligation to use our delivery service.
Importer of Record Germany — your questions answered
Straight answers on EORI, liability, VAT and Amazon FBA. Still unsure? A consultation is free.
Licensed. English-speaking. Based in Germany.
PEC Global is a licensed customs agent and freight forwarder based in Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia. We have operated as Importer of Record for international brands for over seven years. Our team handles every client communication in English. German bureaucracy is our problem to solve — not yours.