Sea freight
Import and export shipments worldwide, from collection at the supplier to clearance in Hamburg and Bremen.
Learn more →Solutions from a single source
One point of contact for every step of your supply chain
Coordinate one provider instead of five. We combine sea freight, customs, warehousing and transport into one seamless process, transparent and EDI-supported.
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01
Sea freight
Import and export shipments worldwide, booking and container scheduling.
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02
Customs clearance & container trucking
Import and export customs clearance in Hamburg and Bremen, plus delivery of your containers to the destination of your choice.
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03
Contract logistics
Certified storage to IFS Logistics, organic and GMP+ standards, order picking and inventory management.
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04
Fulfillment
E-commerce logistics and delivery to Amazon FBA warehouses.
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05
Distribution
Nationwide and Europe-wide transport by truck and rail.
Services
Everything your goods need between supplier and customer
Worldwide sea freight
At home in the Port of Hamburg. At home in every port worldwide.
As a seaport forwarder, we have been rooted in the Port of Hamburg since 1958. Thanks to our worldwide partner network, we organise your import and export shipments to and from any port in the world, with the same reliable service you know from us in Hamburg. From collection at your supplier through customs clearance to onward transport, everything comes from a single source.
- Full container loads (FCL) and groupage (LCL) via Hamburg, Bremen, Rotterdam and Antwerp
- Worldwide import & export shipping (China, ASEAN, Africa, South America, North America)
- Import and export clearance in Hamburg and Bremen
- Container trucking across Germany and Europe
- Container unloading and storage in our own warehouse
- Online shipment tracking via myRapid
- Shipping documents and container stuffing on request
Rail transport – Rapid Rail Service
By rail from China direct to Hamburg-Billwerder
Container trains from China arrive at the Hamburg-Billwerder rail terminal, just a few kilometers from our warehouse sites. With a transit time of around 20 days, rail is significantly faster than sea freight. Your goods are available sooner, and you tie up less capital in inventory in transit.
approx. 20 days
China – Hamburg by rail
approx. 30–40 days
by sea freight, for comparison
a few km
from the Billwerder terminal to our warehouse
China to Hamburg by rail
- Direct container trains from China to Hamburg-Billwerder
- Short distances from the terminal to our warehouse and customs (bonded) warehouse
- Customs clearance, storage and onward distribution from a single source
- Ideal for time-critical goods and for bridging supply bottlenecks
Container on-carriage by rail in Germany and Europe
As a shareholder in TCU GmbH & Co. KG and Kombiverkehr KG, we offer container on-carriage by rail from the seaports to terminals throughout Germany and Europe.
- Direct access to the combined transport network
- Reliable transit times and high capacity
- Significantly lower CO₂ emissions than road-only transport
- Last mile by truck from the destination terminal to the consignee
Air freight
Worldwide by air when time is critical
For urgent shipments and high-value goods we organise air freight worldwide, for example for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products or spare parts for machinery and equipment. We deliver fast, door to door, across continents and take care of booking, documents and customs clearance as well. When time is critical, air freight is the most sensible transport option.
- Worldwide import and export shipments by air
- Urgent and time-critical shipments, e.g. spare parts for machinery
- High-value goods from the cosmetics and pharma sectors
- Collection, export and import customs clearance and delivery from a single source
1–3 days
pure flight time to the major cargo hubs worldwide
Door-to-door
fast delivery from door to door, across all continents
Customs solutions
Customs clearance with our own customs warehouses in Hamburg
Since 1958, we have handled imports and exports through the Port of Hamburg. Our trained customs team takes care of all formalities so your goods keep moving without delay.
With fiscal clearance, you pay only the customs duty on import. Import VAT is accounted for later through your company, which protects your liquidity and greatly simplifies importing.
AEO-C certified
As an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO-C, customs simplifications), we have been audited by German customs and recognised as particularly reliable. For you this means fewer customs controls, priority treatment and simplified procedures.
Customs warehouses
our own customs warehouses in Hamburg, close to the port
ATLAS · ZAPP
direct electronic processing
HH · HB
clearance in Hamburg and Bremen
Import
- Import clearance via ATLAS
- Fiscal clearance (customs procedure 42): you pay only the customs duty; import VAT is accounted for through your company
- Payment deferral via a deferment account
- Preference handling and review of anti-dumping duties
Export
- Export clearance via ATLAS
- Exit confirmation as proof of export
- Port processing via ZAPP in Hamburg
- Proofs of origin and preference (EUR.1, certificate of origin)
Transit
- Union transit / common transit procedure T1 / T2 (NCTS)
- Carnet TIR
Warehousing and special procedures
- Customs warehousing procedure in our own customs warehouses in Hamburg
- Inward and outward processing
- Temporary admission
Contract logistics
Storage and order picking in our own modern logistics centres
From the container to the loading dock, into high-bay racking and, once picked, back onto the truck. We handle warehouse management, inventory management and dispatch in warehouses certified to IFS Logistics, organic and GMP+ standards.
- Warehousing and Food Logistics
- Order picking, PICK & PACK and e-commerce logistics
- Container unloading and delivery to Amazon FBA
- Our own customs warehouses in Hamburg (store goods duty-unpaid)
- Storage of water-hazardous goods (WGK classes 1–3) available
- Value-added logistics, e.g. quality inspections and measurements on request
- Sustainable logistics solutions: our warehouses are equipped with photovoltaic systems
Your benefits
Certified warehouses
IFS Logistics, organic and GMP+: audited standards for food, animal feed and sensitive goods.
Our own customs warehouses in Hamburg
Store goods duty-unpaid and clear them only on release, just a few kilometers from the Port of Hamburg.
Storage of water-hazardous goods (WGK classes 1–3)
We also store water-hazardous substances of classes 1 to 3 safely and in compliance with regulations.
Transport
On the road across Germany and Europe
Full and part loads, pre- and on-carriage to and from the port, and scheduled regular services. Your goods arrive on time.
Supply chain consulting
Your logistics chain, viewed as a whole
Experienced logistics experts and IT specialists work with you to develop a customized concept for your supply chain, taking warehousing, transport providers and customs into account.
The goal: low storage costs and inventory managed so that no bottlenecks arise. We coordinate container logistics and customs clearance in the Port of Hamburg using real-time data processing.
- 01Analysis of your existing logistics structure, including outsourced functions and subcontractors
- 02Requirements profile and a tailored, industry-specific logistics solution
- 03Our own warehouse management system, plus custom software on request, for example for your online store
- 04Interfaces (EDI) to your systems, customers and service providers
- 05Project controlling and continuous process optimization, including after go-live
- 06Advice on customs and fiscal clearance in Europe
Commercial space for rent
Warehouse and office space in Hamburg, Bremen and the Ruhr region.
Industries
Specialized in goods that need special care
Traceability, hygiene and documentation are part of our daily routine. That is why manufacturers and traders from these industries trust us.
Company
Owner-managed. A Hamburg forwarder since 1958.
Founded as a seaport forwarder in the Port of Hamburg and active internationally today. As a mid-sized, owner-managed company, we make decisions quickly and look at your logistics chain as a whole.
Since acquiring the sea freight specialist BACKHAUS & CO. GmbH & Co. KG in 2015, we have significantly expanded our sea freight import services. In 2022, we were joined by the export forwarder Red Cargo Shipping GmbH, whose team continues to offer sea freight exports through Rapid, primarily to Africa and South America. Import and export shipping now complements our range of container trucking, customs clearance, modern warehousing and road transport throughout Germany and Europe.
With many forwarding specialists under one roof, we offer our customers an all-round service from a single source: tailored to their requirements and delivered by experts in every field. You bring the request, we find the solution. True to our motto: we deliver.
Sustainable and responsible
We are a sustainable company and care about our environment.
- Environment: We invest in photovoltaic systems on our warehouses and are gradually converting our company fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles. Our goal: to organise our customers’ transports on a climate-neutral basis within the next two decades. To get there, we are continuously working on solutions that measurably reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Governance: Active membership in the Verein Hamburger Spediteure (VHSp, Hamburg freight forwarders’ association), the DSLV (German Federal Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics), the Logistik-Initiative Hamburg and the Versammlung Eines Ehrbaren Kaufmanns zu Hamburg (VEEK).
- Community: We support sports clubs and social organisations in our neighbourhood and are a very active member of the initiative “Blut transportiert e.V.”.
2015
Acquisition of BACKHAUS & CO.: sea freight import
2022
Red Cargo Shipping: exports to Africa and South America
Our history
A Hamburg family business with a history
In 1958, Wolfgang Przybisch founded Rapid as a seaport forwarder in the Port of Hamburg. The trucks have grown bigger and the warehouses more modern. What defines us has remained: a company owned and managed by the Przybisch family in the third generation, with short decision paths and responsibility for every shipment.
News
News from Rapid
Recertified – IFS Logistics & GMP+
In June and July, DEKRA recertified us to IFS Logistics and GMP+.
Read more →Your reliable logistics partner – across Germany & Europe
Part and full loads in Germany and Europe, since 1958.
Read more →Your logistics partner for worldwide import and export transport
Imports and exports to and from Asia, North and South America and Africa, including food and feed additives.
Read more →Careers
Logistics with a future. Join our team.
Permanent position or apprenticeship, in the office or in the warehouse: we are always looking for new people to strengthen our team in Hamburg. Apprenticeships start every year on 1 February and 1 August.
Insights into our team and current vacancies on LinkedIn →Open positions
- Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services Clerk (m/f/d) Permanent position · Focus on import · Hamburg
- Warehouse Operative / Forklift Driver (m/f/d) Permanent position · Forklift license required · Hamburg
- Apprenticeship: Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services Clerk (m/f/d) Apprenticeship · Starts 1 February and 1 August
- Apprenticeship: Warehouse Operative (m/f/d) Apprenticeship · Starts 1 February and 1 August
Let’s talk about your supply chain.
Get a quote for the entire chain or for individual services, exactly as you need it.