Shipping and logistics: Getting products into and around Czechia

A practical overview of moving goods to, from, and within Czechia.

The basics

Czechia is landlocked, sitting in the middle of Europe. No seaports, but excellent road and rail connections to everywhere that matters. For most goods, this means trucking — fast, reliable, and well-established.

If you’re shipping products to or through Czechia, here’s what you need to know.

Getting goods into Czechia

From within the EU

No customs, no border checks. Goods move freely.

  • Standard trucking from Western Europe
  • Typical transit times: Germany (1 day), Netherlands (2 days), France (2-3 days)
  • VAT applies in the destination country (Czechia) for B2B

This is the simplest scenario. Just find a carrier and ship.

From outside the EU (imports)

Customs procedures apply. Goods typically enter the EU at a port (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Gdańsk) or airport, clear customs, then move to Czechia.

Key considerations:

  • Customs duties — depend on product type and origin country
  • VAT — 21% (or reduced rate), due at import
  • Documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, certificates if required
  • Customs broker — recommended unless you know what you’re doing

If you’re importing regularly, consider using a customs warehouse or working with a freight forwarder who handles EU entry.

E-commerce / small parcels

International couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) and postal services handle small shipments. For B2C shipments from outside EU, the recipient typically pays VAT and duties on delivery.

Moving goods within Czechia

Road transport

The dominant mode for domestic logistics. Czech roads are good, distances are short, and trucking is efficient.

  • Prague to Brno: ~2 hours
  • Prague to Ostrava: ~3.5 hours
  • Full truck, partial loads, or parcel services available

Couriers and parcel services

For smaller shipments:

  • Czech Post (Česká pošta) — affordable, nationwide, can be slow
  • PPL, DPD, GLS — reliable commercial couriers
  • Zásilkovna — popular for e-commerce, extensive pickup point network
  • International couriers — DHL, UPS, FedEx for express or international

For B2C e-commerce, Zásilkovna and similar services with pickup points are very popular with Czech consumers.

Rail

Used for bulk goods (raw materials, heavy machinery) but not common for general commercial freight. Czech Rail Cargo handles rail freight if needed.

Finding logistics partners

Freight forwarders

For complex shipments (international, customs, multi-modal), use a freight forwarder. They handle routing, documentation, and problem-solving.

Look for:

  • Experience with your type of goods
  • Knowledge of Czech customs (if importing from outside EU)
  • Clear pricing and communication

Transport companies

For straightforward domestic trucking, you can work directly with transport companies.

Many Czech transport firms speak English and work with international clients. Get multiple quotes — prices vary.

3PL (third-party logistics)

If you need warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution, consider a 3PL provider. They store your goods, pick and pack orders, and ship to customers.

Good option if you’re selling into Czech market but don’t want to manage logistics yourself.

Warehousing

Location

Most logistics activity centers around:

  • Prague — largest market, main hub
  • Brno — strong logistics infrastructure, lower costs than Prague
  • Ostrava — industrial region, good for manufacturing-related logistics
  • Along D1 motorway — Prague-Brno corridor, popular for distribution centers

Options

  • Public warehouses — rent space as needed, flexible
  • Dedicated facilities — if you have significant volume
  • Fulfillment centers — for e-commerce, they handle storage and shipping

Costs are lower than Western Europe but have been rising, especially near Prague.

Customs and duties (non-EU goods)

If you’re importing from outside the EU:

Customs procedures

  • Goods must be declared at EU point of entry or at a Czech customs office
  • Commercial invoice, transport documents, and product information required
  • Some goods require certificates (safety, health, origin)

Duties

  • Rates depend on product classification (HS code) and country of origin
  • EU has various trade agreements that reduce duties for some countries
  • Check the EU TARIC database for specific rates

VAT on import

  • Due when goods clear customs
  • Standard rate: 21%
  • Can be deferred if you’re VAT-registered (import VAT becomes input VAT)

Using a customs broker

Unless you do this regularly, use a broker. They handle declarations, calculate duties, and deal with customs authorities. Mistakes are expensive.

Key logistics hubs and infrastructure

Airports

  • Prague (PRG) — main cargo airport, handles most air freight
  • Brno, Ostrava — smaller, limited cargo capacity

For air freight, Prague is usually the entry point.

Road network

Excellent motorway connections:

  • D1 (Prague-Brno-Ostrava)
  • D5 (Prague-Plzeň-Germany)
  • D8 (Prague-Dresden)
  • D11 (Prague-Hradec Králové-Poland)

Trucks over 3.5 tons need electronic toll (myto) — carriers handle this.

Rail connections

Good connections to German, Polish, and Austrian rail networks. Useful for heavy freight but slower for general goods.

Common challenges

Last-mile delivery in Prague

Prague’s historic center has access restrictions. Delivery windows may be limited. Plan for this if supplying city-center businesses.

Seasonal peaks

E-commerce peaks (Black Friday, Christmas) strain courier capacity. Book early and expect delays.

Driver availability

Like much of Europe, Czechia faces driver shortages. This affects capacity and prices, especially for trucking.

Cross-border complexity

Shipping to/from non-EU countries involves paperwork. Build in time for customs processing.

Tips for smooth logistics

  • Start with a freight forwarder if you’re new to Czech logistics
  • Get multiple quotes — prices vary significantly
  • Understand Incoterms — who’s responsible at each stage?
  • Plan for customs if importing from outside EU
  • Use local couriers for domestic B2C — they’re cheaper and know the market
  • Consider a 3PL if you don’t want to manage warehousing yourself
  • Build relationships — reliable logistics partners are worth keeping

Next steps

Need help finding logistics partners, understanding customs, or setting up distribution in Czechia? We can point you in the right direction.

Get in touch →

Logistics details change — verify current rates, regulations, and options with providers.