Import-Export Between Italy and Switzerland
Secure transportation for leather goods, fashion items, luxury goods, and goods requiring a cold chain.
Transport your products safely
Commercial shipments between Italy and Switzerland require coordination of transportation, customs formalities, and final delivery. For those looking for a freight forwarder between Italy and Switzerland that offers customs clearance and final delivery, STAR Logistique manages the entire process from the point of origin to the Swiss recipient.
Switzerland is not part of the European Union. Each commercial shipment must therefore comply with the export procedures of the country of origin and the import procedures in Switzerland.
The service may include:
- Pickup from the manufacturer, supplier, or warehouse in Italy
- Full-truckload or less-than-truckload shipping
- Express courier and urgent shipments
- Customs declarations, VAT, tax representation, and transit
- Customs clearance in Switzerland
- Storage, cross-docking, or order fulfillment
- Final delivery to stores, warehouses, offices, or other recipients
Secure Transportation
Since 1988, STAR Logistique has been organizing discreet transport of valuable goods between Italy and Switzerland. Planning takes into account the level of risk, the value of the goods, the number of handling operations, and the recipient’s requirements.
Logistics/Order Fulfillment
Our teams prepare e-commerce orders,label them, pack them, and ship them to Switzerland, Italy, Europe, and beyond. Services may include:
- Order fulfillment
- Labeling, palletizing, etc.
Warehousing
Our storage facilities located in Geneva, Switzerland, and neighboring Francefacilitate trade between Italy, the European Union, and Switzerland. Warehousing can be used prior to delivery, between shipments, or during split distribution to multiple recipients.
Customs Clearance
Customs services may include:
- Import and export declarations
- Classification and description of goods
- Verification of commercial documents
- VAT management
- Tax representation, transit, etc.
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Distribution to Swiss stores and retail locations
A logistics provider responsible for deliveries to stores in Switzerland must coordinate international transportation with the operational needs of retail locations. Deliveries may be one-time, urgent, or organized according to regular routes and distribution rounds.
STAR Logistique manages the preparation and transfer of:
- Packages, pallets, and less-than-truckload shipments
- Fashion items and luxury goods
- Cosmetics and fragrances
- Spare parts and components
- Fresh, refrigerated, or frozen products
The final delivery can depart directly from Italy or from a Swiss warehouse after customs clearance. Labeling, order consolidation, cross-docking, and urban distribution ensure that delivery time slots for stores, offices, and warehouses are met.
For domestic distribution, fast delivery options are available, including next-day delivery depending on the destination and the service selected. The actual delivery time depends on the goods, the pickup time, customs clearance, the route, and the Incoterm.
To evaluate a service provider, companies should check for:
- Comprehensive management of transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery
- Coverage of Swiss destinations
- Ability to meet store receiving schedules
- Handling of packages, pallets, and less-than-truckload shipments
- Availability of storage and cross-docking space
- Traceability and exception management
- Experience with sensitive or high-value goods
The guide on choosing the right logistics provider for stores in Switzerland discusses these criteria in greater detail.
E-Commerce
We support e-commerce businesses operating between Italy and Switzerland, including those requiring cold chain management or express deliveries. Speed, traceability, and reliability are at the heart of our commitment.
Luxury Goods
We provide secure international transportation of high-value goods for the luxury sector: perfumes, leather goods, fashion, jewelry, watches, and haute couture. Confidentiality and security are guaranteed.
Sensitive Products
Specializing in temperature-controlled transportation, we serve the sensitive sectors between Italy and Switzerland: gastronomy, the pharmaceutical industry, and more.
Dangerous Goods
As a company certified for the international transport of dangerous goods under ADR, we serve high-risk sectors such as the pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive, and waste management industries.
A coordinated logistics flow between Italy and Switzerland
STAR Logistique supports manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and importers in the pharmaceutical, industrial, medical, chemical, luxury goods, and agri-food sectors.
Cross-border door-to-door transportation generally follows these steps:
Step
Main Activities
1. Preparation
Collection of data regarding the goods: value, origin, classification, weight, volume, temperature, and Incoterm
2. Pickup in Italy
Pickup at the shipper’s location using a vehicle suited to the type of cargo and the required delivery times
3. Export
Preparation of documents and the export declaration
4. Border Crossing
Coordination of transit and provision of necessary information to the carrier and customs officials
5. Import into Switzerland
Submission of the import declaration, handling of VAT, and customs clearance
6. Intermediate Logistics
Storage, labeling, packaging, palletizing, or cross-docking as needed
7. Final delivery
Distribution to stores, warehouses, offices, points of sale, or other recipients in Switzerland
Timelines, costs, and responsibilities depend on the nature of the goods, the declared value, the destination, the route, and the agreed-upon Incoterm.
Luxury goods and industrial components
Luxury goods, high-end industrial components, specialty metals, and precision components require protection during pickup, transport, storage, and delivery.
STAR Logistique organizes secure transportation for:
- Fashion items, leather goods, and luxury accessories
- Jewelry, precious metals, and high-performance alloys
- Machined metal components, machinery, and equipment
- Industrial spare parts and critical components
- Medical devices and precision instruments
- Prototypes and confidential components
Depending on the shipment’s risk profile, the following measures may be implemented:
- Secure or armored vehicles as needed
- Routes planned with strict confidentiality
- Real-time tracking of the shipment
- Restricted access to the goods
- Staff trained in risk management
- Direct transport with few or no transfers
- Insurance solutions tailored to the value of the goods
Pharmaceutical, cold chain, and laboratory supply chain
Medications, vaccines, biological samples, laboratory products, and specialty foods must be stored under specified temperature conditions throughout transport.
STAR Logistique organizes temperature-controlled transport for:
- Medications, vaccines, and active pharmaceutical ingredients
- Biological and clinical samples, reagents, and laboratory products
- Temperature-sensitive medical devices
- Cosmetics and biotechnology products
- Fresh cheeses and fresh pasta
- Fresh, refrigerated, and frozen products
Temperature control may involve positive refrigeration or temperatures as low as −20 °C, depending on the product and the client’s instructions. Specifications are defined prior to pickup.
Cold chain management includes:
- Temperature-controlled storage
- Refrigerated transport
- Cross-docking
- Temperature monitoring and logging
- Coordination between the shipper, carrier, and recipient
- Verification of documents required for customs clearance
ADR Products and Regulated Substances
Chemicals and dangerous goods require proper classification, appropriate packaging, and complete accompanying documentation.
This service may cover:
- Chemicals, resins, solvents, and reagents
- Batteries and regulated substances
- Other goods subject to ADR regulations
Planning takes into account the classification of the goods, transportation requirements, safety information, and applicable customs documents.
Solutions for all types of goods
Type of goods
Common requirements
Protection and transportation
Customs services
Industrial components and specialty metals
Machinery, precision components, and high-value replacement parts; confidentiality and strict deadlines
Secure vehicles, controlled access, direct transport, and geolocation
Description of goods, declaration of value, proofs of origin according to the applicable regime, and import/export documents
Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and samples
Defined temperature, documented conditions, and controlled timelines
Temperature-controlled transport, monitoring, temperature logging, refrigerated storage, and cross-docking
Applicable pharmaceutical documentation, commercial invoices, product information, and customs clearance coordination
Medical devices and laboratory equipment
Sensitive equipment and agreed-upon dates for installation, maintenance, or delivery
Direct transport, limited movements, and careful handling
Shipping documents, cargo classification, and coordination with customs partners
Chemicals and ADR cargo
Classification, appropriate packaging, and required documents
Organization in accordance with applicable requirements and verification of shipping information
Data on dangerous goods, tariff classification, and customs documents
Returns and goods requiring repair
Temporary movements, guarantees, maintenance, or repair
Pickup from the customer or supplier and coordinated organization of the return
Documents related to repair, processing, transformation, or re-export
E-commerce, returns, and temporary imports
Online orders shipped to Switzerland require traceable shipping, proper package preparation, and coordination of customs formalities. The logistics process may include warehousing, order fulfillment, labeling, packaging, shipping, and returns management.
For goods sent to Switzerland for repair, maintenance, or processing, the documentation must accurately describe the temporary nature of the shipment. Customs processing depends on each individual case and the available documentation.
An Italian-Swiss network integrated into europe
STAR Logistique’s international transportation services connect Swiss import and export operations to the Italian and European markets. Transportation between Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and other countries can be integrated into a single logistics plan.
The available modes of transportation depend on the type of shipment and the level of urgency:
- Direct transport for time-sensitive or urgent shipments
- Full truckload and less-than-truckload shipments
- Parcel and pallet shipments
- Refrigerated transport
- Secure transport for high-value goods
- ADR transport
- Domestic distribution after customs clearance
FAQ
The comparison should take into account the integrated management of transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery, as well as geographic coverage, transit times, traceability, and warehousing services. For pharmaceutical, refrigerated, ADR, or high-value goods, specific procedures and equipment are also required.
Generally, a commercial invoice, sender and recipient information, a precise description of the goods, value, origin, customs code, weight, and terms of sale are required. For regulated goods, additional documents may be necessary, such as safety data sheets, certificates, or temperature information.
The declaration can be prepared and submitted by the customs representative based on the data provided by the shipper or the importer. Liability and the type of representation depend on the transaction, the Incoterm, and the agreements between the parties.
STAR Logistique coordinates Swiss import and export procedures, including VAT, tax representation, and transit when applicable. The solution depends on the structure of the transaction and the importer’s role.
Final delivery is organized as part of the agreed-upon logistics process. It can take place directly from the customs clearance point or after storage, cross-docking, or order fulfillment in Switzerland.
Planning takes into account the specific requirements of the goods. This may include temperature-controlled transport and temperature logging, secure vehicles and routes, restricted access, or ADR classification and dedicated documentation.
Yes. The goods can be cleared through customs, stored, or cross-docked before distribution to multiple retail locations. The plan depends on the number of recipients, receiving times, volumes, and product characteristics.
For specific transportation, customs, or distribution needs, please contact STAR Logistique.