Bonded Warehouse Services in Europe
When goods arrive in Europe but aren’t ready for immediate sale or clearance, bonded warehousing offers a strategic solution. By keeping goods under customs supervision, companies can store them indefinitely without paying duties or VAT until release. At the same time, bonded warehouses allow a wide range of authorised handling activities – from relabelling to quality checks – creating efficiency and flexibility in your supply chain.
Gerlach operates bonded warehouse solutions across Europe, providing the permits, guarantees, and compliance management needed to turn customs warehousing into a financial and operational advantage.
How Gerlach Supports Your Bonded Warehouse Operations
Hold goods under customs control as long as required
Defer payments until goods enter free circulation
Repacking, relabelling, consolidation, and quality checks permitted under customs rules
Strong financial guarantees covering customs liabilities
Certified systems with real-time stock tracking and compliance reporting
Smooth coordination with import clearance, re-export, and transit operations
Our Bonded Warehouse Process
Consultation and planning: Assessment of your storage needs and supply chain requirements
Documentation preparation: Facility mapping, security specifications, and compliance declarations
Application submission: Filing with customs authorities and securing bank guarantees
Site preparation – Implementation of markings, security systems, and digital software
Customs inspection – Coordination of the official verification and approval proces
Operational launch – Ongoing inventory, reporting, and customs support for daily operations
Why Choose Gerlach for Bonded Warehousing?
Contact usLocal know-how combined with a 170-office network in 27 countries
Access to substantial guarantees for high-value inventories
Authorised handling of goods without triggering duty liability
Customs warehousing linked seamlessly to clearance, transit, and export processes
Recognised reliability and security in all warehousing operations
Complementary Services
Import clearance into bonded storage
Goods moved directly under suspension arrangements
Re-export procedures
Ship goods to third countries without paying EU duties
Transit coordination
Seamless cross-border movement to and from bonded warehouses
Inward processing
Combine bonded warehousing with manufacturing or assembly
Fiscal representation
VAT and customs solutions for companies without EU registration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bonded and temporary warehouses?
Bonded warehouses allow unlimited storage time and authorised handling activities such as repacking or relabelling. Temporary warehouses are limited to 90 days and only permit minimal actions like weighing or measuring.
Can EU-cleared and non-EU goods be stored together?
Yes, but strict segregation and documentation are required. Gerlach’s digital systems track and report customs status separately for each goods category.
Do duties and taxes need to be secured for goods in bonded warehouses?
Yes, financial guarantees are required for non-EU goods under customs control. Duties only become payable when goods are released into free circulation.
What handling activities are permitted?
Bonded warehouses allow operations to preserve, prepare, or improve goods – including repacking, relabelling, consolidation, or CE marking – without changing the essential character of the products.
Start Your Bonded Warehouse Operations Today
Turn customs warehousing into a strategic advantage. With Gerlach’s bonded warehouse services, you gain unlimited storage, duty suspension, and authorised handling – all under full compliance management.
Ready to optimise your storage strategy? Contact our experts today for a tailored bonded warehousing solution.
