Fraport AG
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A Pharma Hub in the Heart of the EU: How Fraport and Euroapi Are Strengthening Europe’s Pharma Supply Chains
July 18, 2025
From vaccines and temperature-sensitive medications to biotech products, the Frankfurt CargoHub relies on a finely tuned network to ensure that sensitive pharmaceuticals reach their destinations safely and on time. In this series, we follow the entire process with those involved — on the road, in the transshipment warehouse, and all the way to the aircraft.
Pharmaceutical ingredients for the world – made in Frankfurt
The far west of Frankfurt, Germany, is home to one of Europe’s most important locations for the life science industry. Covering an area of around four square kilometers, Industriepark Höchst houses more than 90 companies, mostly from the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. One of them is EUROAPI, a leading global provider of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Building D 610, close to the banks of the Main River, is the company’s German head office.
At its production sites, EUROAPI manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – the key chemical components found in today’s medications. APIs are used in tablets and injections to ensure that medications have the desired healing effect. 25 APIs are made in Frankfurt, including substances to combat hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and one of the most widely used hay fever medications in the United States. From large volumes of generics to highly specialized made-to-order production, often in small yet critical batches for complex treatments, the products made in Frankfurt-Höchst are distributed all around the world.
EUROAPI is one of the few remaining API manufacturers to still have production sites in Europe. While vast swathes of global API production have been outsourced to Asia, EUROAPI actively focuses on manufacturing its products in Germany. “Times of geopolitical tension or disruption to trade routes make it all too clear how important reliable domestic production is,” explains Reinhold Ziegler, Head of Supply Chain at EUROAPI Germany. “If we want to secure European healthcare provision for the long term, we need to maintain key pharmaceutical capacities in Europe – and that requires reliable logistics hubs.”
Strategic Location Near FRA Delivers Competitive Advantage
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is one such hub, located around five kilometers south of Industriepark Höchst. It is 6:00 a.m. at FRA, and a temperature-controlled transporter is moving across the apron at CargoCity South. Its destination: an Airbus A330 headed for Boston. The transporter is carrying temperature-sensitive precursors for the production of a pharmaceutical substance to treat a rare genetic condition. They have been made by EUROAPI in Frankfurt-Höchst. The shipment is destined for a pharmaceutical company in the United States – and the finely tuned customs deadlines mean every second counts. “We need reliable partners to ensure that our products reach their destination on time and with quality assured,” Ziegler says.
The delivery process begins in Höchst. Before a shipment leaves the plant, it must undergo the air cargo security program. After strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production, quality inspection, and appropriate packaging for transport, the shipment is collected by a GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certified carrier. Ziegler emphasizes: “Nothing leaves our plant without certified processes—no matter how urgent it is.” Safety and security take precedence over speed. “Our partners must be GDP certified, with verified cold chains and seamless documentation.” EUROAPI works exclusively with carriers and partners who meet these requirements. Every step is precisely scheduled: from temperature-controlled storage at 15–25 °C, to export documentation, and on to flight bookings. Ziegler notes: “It all begins with the right packaging and ends at the right gate at the airport.”
Even with defined processes and standards, flexibility is often called for. “All of our logistics must be aligned with the production plan – and since that can change at short notice, our proximity to the Frankfurt CargoHub is a real asset,” emphasizes Ziegler. Whether production is completed ahead of schedule or delayed, or if flight schedules change or customs regulations are updated, the short distances involved enable a rapid response. “Frankfurt is a hugely advantageous location. This is particularly true for time-critical shipments, which are typical for made-to-order production.”
In addition to speed, the wide range of aircraft at Frankfurt Airport represents another benefit of the partnership for EUROAPI. “If necessary, we can use cargo flights or passenger planes depending on availability,” Ziegler explains. “It all comes down to flexibility, and that is what we have at Frankfurt Airport.”
A Single Hub for Imports and Exports
While the Airbus to Boston is taxiing to FRA’s Runway 18 West for takeoff, a Boeing from Asia is already being unloaded on the apron. Some of the freight on board is destined for Frankfurt-Höchst, including raw materials for EUROAPI’s next production batch.
After all, Germany is not just an exporter of pharmaceutical products. Frankfurt also plays a vital role in EUROAPI’s imports. The pharmaceutical supply chain is global, with key precursors sourced from around the world. Some of this freight passes through the Perishable Center, one of several specialized facilities for temperature-sensitive goods at the Frankfurt CargoHub. This is crucial because not every airport is equipped to provide interim storage for pharmaceutical ingredients under the required conditions and at short notice. Frankfurt, however, offers a well-developed infrastructure – from the freight routes across the apron to certified handling teams.
The Frankfurt CargoHub brings together imports and exports in a seamless logistics cycle. Investments in cooling facilities, digital interfaces, and tracking systems further strengthen its position as Europe’s lifeline for critical medications. In addition to making supply chains more secure and efficient, this enables EUROAPI and other pharmaceutical companies to fulfill one of their core responsibilities. Reliability is more than just an advantage – it is an essential promise to patients who rely on timely, safe delivery.
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