Market guide · Germany

Sourcing from India and China for German brands.

German brands pay the same EU tariff as the rest of the Union: Indian industrial goods are back at MFN rates while GSP is suspended to the end of 2028, Chinese goods pay MFN plus trade defence on some lines, and Vietnamese goods use the EVFTA. What is German is the paperwork: LUCID packaging registration under the new VerpackDG, and WEEE registration under the ElektroG.

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12 Aug 2026: VerpackDG replaced VerpackG
MFN: for most Indian industrial goods
Not yet: EU–India FTA in force

Duty snapshot · checked 28 September 2026 Goods into Germany

INIndia MFN (GSP suspended on most lines) In flux
CNChina MFN + trade defence on some lines No agreement
VNVietnam EVFTA preferences In force

Full duty picture and sources ↓

The short answer

What German buyers need to know.

As of 28 September 2026. Checked against official sources.

01
Germany applies the EU Common Customs Tariff. Indian goods pay MFN on most industrial lines because EU GSP is suspended for India from 2026 to 2028; leather goods and some handicrafts keep GSP.
02
The EU–India FTA was concluded in January 2026 but is not in force. Vietnam benefits from the EVFTA; China pays MFN plus anti-dumping duties on specific products.
03
Since 12 August 2026, the PPWR and the German VerpackDG govern packaging: register in LUCID before the first sale. Electrical goods need stiftung ear registration under the ElektroG.

1 · Duty picture

What you pay at the border.

As of 28 September 2026. Every rate depends on the product’s HS code, so treat this as the map and check your own codes before you order.

How duty works in Germany

Duty is charged at the EU Common Customs Tariff rate for the product’s CN code, on the customs value delivered to the EU border (a CIF-type value, so sea freight and insurance count). Import VAT is then charged at the national rate of the country of import.
The same tariff applies in every EU member state, so the duty on a product is the same in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre or Gothenburg. National differences are in VAT, packaging and product EPR, and enforcement.
A temporary flat customs duty of €3 applies to low-value e-commerce items under €150 from 1 July 2026 until 1 July 2028. Brands shipping direct to consumers should budget for it.

From India

MFN on most industrial goods

In force
EU GSP preferences for India are suspended from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028 for most industrial sections: minerals, chemicals, plastics and rubber, textiles and garments, stone and ceramics, precious metals, iron and steel, base metals, machinery, electrical goods and transport equipment.
In force
Leather goods, some handicrafts and many agricultural lines keep the GSP rate. Check your CN code before assuming either way.
Concluded, not in force
The EU–India FTA was concluded in January 2026. The Commission sent its proposals to the Council in September 2026; the agreement still needs signature, European Parliament consent and ratification by India. It is not in force.

From China

MFN, plus trade defence on some lines

No agreement
No free trade agreement and no GSP: Chinese goods pay the MFN rate in the EU tariff.
In force
Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties apply to a long list of Chinese products (steel, aluminium, fasteners, e-bikes, some ceramics and chemicals among them). Always check TARIC for additional duties by exporter.

From Vietnam

EVFTA preferences

In force
The EU–Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) has applied since 1 August 2020 and eliminates 99% of tariffs between the two, in stages. Many lines are already at zero; claim the preference with valid proof of origin.
In force
Rules of origin decide eligibility: garments, for example, need qualifying fabric origin. Chinese fabric sewn in Vietnam often does not qualify.

Agreements and measures that apply

EU–India FTAEU and India

Concluded, not in forceConcluded Jan 2026

Commission proposals with the Council since September 2026. Signature, Parliament consent and Indian ratification still to come.
EU GSP (India)EU → India

In force1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028

Preferences suspended for most industrial sections; leather goods and some handicrafts keep them.
EU–Vietnam FTA (EVFTA)EU and Vietnam

In forceSince 1 Aug 2020

99% of tariffs eliminated in stages; proof of origin required.
EU–ChinaEU and China

No agreement—

MFN rates, plus anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on specific products.

Model it for your product: Find the HS code Compare landed cost

2 · Product compliance

The rules your product has to meet.

EU product law applies in full; Germany adds national registers for packaging and electrical goods.

Safety

GPSR and CE marking

The General Product Safety Regulation has applied since 13 December 2024: every consumer product needs an EU-based responsible economic operator, traceability details on the product and a risk analysis. Products under harmonised laws (toys, electrical, radio, machinery, PPE) also need CE marking and a declaration of conformity.

Chemicals

REACH and RoHS

SVHCs above 0.1% in an article must be communicated to customers, Annex XVII restrictions apply to textiles, leather, plastics and more, and electrical goods must meet RoHS substance limits.

REACH guide

Packaging

PPWR, since 12 August 2026

Packaging needs conformity assessment, technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity. Heavy metals are capped at 100 mg/kg combined, and PFAS limits apply to food-contact packaging.

PPWR guide

Germany · packaging

LUCID and the VerpackDG

Since 12 August 2026 the VerpackDG has replaced the VerpackG. Register in the LUCID Packaging Register before the first sale, join a dual system for packaging that ends up with private consumers, and report volumes. Foreign producers selling direct to German end users must appoint an authorised representative.

Packaging EPR guide

Germany · electrical

ElektroG and stiftung ear

Electrical and electronic equipment must be registered with stiftung ear before it is offered in Germany. A producer without a German establishment cannot register itself and must appoint an authorised representative located in Germany.

Deforestation

EUDR, from 30 December 2026

Wood, rubber, leather from cattle, coffee, cocoa, palm oil and soy products need a due diligence statement with plot geolocation. Micro and small operators follow on 30 June 2027.

EUDR guide

Carbon

CBAM

Importers of steel, aluminium and the other CBAM goods above 50 tonnes a year need authorised declarant status and embedded-emissions data from the plant. The first annual declaration is due by 30 September 2027.

CBAM guide

3 · Getting goods there

Sea lanes, transit times and Incoterms.

Indicative port-to-port planning ranges, not a carrier schedule. Transhipment, blank sailings and routing change them; confirm with the carrier at booking.

Nhava Sheva / MundraHamburg / Bremerhaven

22–30days

Via Suez; add 10–14 via the Cape
ChennaiHamburg / Bremerhaven

28–42days

Often transhipped at Colombo
Ningbo / ShanghaiHamburg / Bremerhaven

32–40days

Via Suez; 42–52 via the Cape
Ningbo / ShanghaiRotterdam, then barge or rail

30–38days

Common for southern Germany

Routing in September 2026: carriers were returning Asia–Europe services to the Suez Canal gradually, service by service; sailings via the Cape of Good Hope take roughly 10 to 14 days longer.

Incoterms norms

FOB (named Indian or Chinese port) is the default for full containers: you control the main freight and insurance, and your forwarder books the vessel.
FCA suits LCL and air, and is safer than EXW in India, where an Indian exporter must file the shipping bill for export clearance.
Your EU company imports on its own EORI number. DDP from an Asian supplier only works if they are VAT-registered and able to act as importer in the EU, which few factories are.
EU customs value includes freight and insurance to the EU border, so CIF-level landed cost is the right basis for comparing India and China quotes.

Pick a term with the Incoterms advisor

4 · India or China

Which country suits which product.

Vietnam is a strong third option for furniture, footwear and apparel into Germany under the EVFTA, if origin rules are met.

Strong from India

About sourcing from India

Castings, forgings and machined partsEngineering buyers in Germany use Indian foundries and machine shops for iron, steel and aluminium parts to drawing.
Textiles and technical textilesCotton apparel, home textiles and industrial fabrics, now at MFN rates while GSP is suspended.
Leather goods and footwearLeather goods keep GSP preferences, and Indian tanneries serve German brands with REACH testing in place.

Strong from China

About sourcing from China

Electronics and EEEDeep supply chain; plan ElektroG registration and RoHS evidence before launch.
Plastic and metal consumer goodsTooling speed and scale; check TARIC for anti-dumping on items like fasteners, steel and aluminium goods.
E-mobility parts and lightingStrong clusters, but e-bikes and some components carry EU trade-defence duties.

Running both? Plan a China + 1 second source

5 · How SourceSquid helps

From duty map to landed container.

Our teams in Bengaluru and Ningbo find, audit and inspect factories for German brands buying from India and China, and collect the evidence your market asks for.

USD 390 · named factories

Supplier shortlist

Named manufacturers in India and China, checked by calls, matched to German requirements.

Free tool

Landed cost calculator

Factory price, freight, duty and taxes side by side, so you compare lanes, not quotes.

Free tool

HS code finder

Find the likely HS code first; every duty rate on this page depends on it.

USD 490 per supplier

FTA duty-saver audit

Rules of origin checked at the factory, up to 5 HS lines, so your zero-duty claim is defensible.

From USD 229 per person-day

Inspections and audits

In-line, pre-shipment and loading inspections by our own team in India and China.

Compliance

LUCID and packaging EPR

The German rules above turned into a supplier evidence list, collected at the factory.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Checked on 28 September 2026 and refreshed monthly. Official government, customs and EU sources first; commentary is named as such. This page explains the rules in plain English. For a view on your own products, ask our team or your customs broker.

Germany buyer questions

Straight answers.

Checked on 28 September 2026. We update this guide when duties or rules move.

anirudh@sourcesquid.co

What customs duty do Indian goods pay in Germany in 2026?

Germany applies the EU tariff. Because EU GSP preferences for India are suspended for most industrial sections from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028, most Indian industrial goods pay the full MFN rate. Leather goods, some handicrafts and many agricultural lines keep the GSP rate.

Is the EU–India free trade agreement in force?

No. It was concluded in January 2026, and in September 2026 the Commission sent its proposals to the Council. Signature, European Parliament consent and Indian ratification must follow before it enters into force.

What changed for packaging in Germany in August 2026?

On 12 August 2026 the EU PPWR began to apply and the German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) replaced the Packaging Act. Registration in LUCID, system participation and reporting continue, and producers based abroad that sell directly to German end users must appoint an authorised representative.

Do I need to register electrical products in Germany?

Yes. Under the ElektroG, electrical and electronic equipment must be registered with stiftung ear before it is offered. A producer without a German establishment must appoint an authorised representative located in Germany to register.

How long does shipping take from China or India to Hamburg?

As a planning range, Ningbo or Shanghai to Hamburg takes about 32 to 40 days via Suez and 42 to 52 via the Cape; Nhava Sheva or Mundra to Hamburg about 22 to 30 days via Suez. Carriers were returning to Suez service by service in September 2026.

Other market guides

Selling in more than one market?

NL · EuropeNetherlandsRotterdam is Europe’s main Asia gateway; Dutch EPR covers packaging and textiles, on top of EU product law.FR · EuropeFranceFrance runs the widest set of EPR schemes in Europe: Triman, your IDU and a French representative if you are based abroad.SE · EuropeSweden and the NordicsSweden, Denmark and Finland use the EU tariff; Norway has had duty-free access for Indian industrial goods under TEPA since October 2025.

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