Shipping to Austria from Thailand presents many great opportunities as well as some hurdles that we will discuss in this article.
Thailand and Austria have a long standing commercial relationship going back over 150 years. The Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation was initiated in 1869 between what was then called the Kingdom of Siam and the Austro – Hungarian Empire
With a population of over 9 million people, Austria imports machinery, several types of chemicals as well as many mining products. As it has no significant sources of petroleum, it also imports several types of fuels.
Because of a growing interest and appreciation of Thai foods in Austria, Jasmine Rice has continued to grow as an export commodity to this country.
Electronics and electrical components account for almost $50 million annual sales into Austria as well.
Even though Austria has no direct access to sea ports, it has a well-developed rail and road infrastructure. Given that Thailand has multiple sea ports, we find that the main route of goods from Thailand to Austria will follow a sea route to one of Austria’s neighbors who have access to a sea port. From there it transits either by rail or road to destinations within Austria.
Air Freight
Vienna International airport is the main port for handling imported goods from Thailand and other parts of the world.
In addition to Vienna International airport, there are 5 other international airports within Austria. They are located in Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck Linz and Klagenfurt.
Transit time for air freight from Thailand to Vienna International airport is typically 3 to 5 days. Lufthansa and Indi – Go airlines are two of the largest commercial carriers operating in and out of this airport.
With the high cost of excess luggage for air travelers, many Austrian tourists are taking advantage of air freighting their luggage from Thailand to their home in Austria. This can cut costs as well as relieve the traveler of the hassle of dragging their luggage through airports. Your luggage is delivered directly to your home.
Customs clearance into Austria
As a member of the European Union Austria defaults almost all of its import regulations to the directives of the EU.
Austria has adopted the customs systems employed by all EU members, this includes the requirement that the CE label be present for most goods entering the country.
Custom tariffs are quite liberal and over half of all goods coming into Austria can enter duty free.
Frequent Asked Questions
How long does it take to ship cargo from Thailand to Austria via ocean freight?
Typical transit times are between 4 to 5 weeks.
What goods are restricted when shipping from Thailand to Austria?
Wild animal skins, live plants and firearms are the most commonly restricted items. For a full list, consult your freight forwarder.
Is insurance required on cargo going to Austria?
While there are no official requirements that cargo be insured, it is always a good idea to insurance your shipment, especially if the valuation of goods are significant.
