Aruba: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Aruba.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Aruba in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Aruba may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Aruba.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Aruba recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Aruba: logistics and trade

Caribbean island / tourism and trade hub (EU OCT)

Aruba (ISO-Code: AW) is an island in the southern Caribbean, located north of Venezuela, and is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Politically, Aruba is an autonomous country within the kingdom with its own administration and legislation. The climate is tropical-arid with consistently warm temperatures, low rainfall, and dry trade winds, making the island particularly attractive for tourism. Economically, Aruba is primarily based on tourism, services, and the financial sector, supplemented by limited refining and trade activities. Foreign trade focuses on imports of food, fuels, consumer, and investment goods, while exports play a minor role. Aruba serves a limited transit function in the Caribbean, mainly through the port of Oranjestad and the international airport. The national currency is the Aruba Florin (AWG), and the US dollar is also widely accepted. The logistical infrastructure includes ports, roads, and airport facilities that support the flow of goods and the tourism sector. Thanks to stable political structures, a strategic location, and good infrastructure, Aruba is an important hub for trade, tourism, and services in the region.

Capital: Oranjestad
Population: 107,000
Area: 180 km²
Currency: Aruba Florin (AWG)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean
Economic area: Kingdom of the Netherlands / EU OCT (outside the EU customs territory)
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Freight handling bundled at the Multi Cargo Sea Terminal Barcadera (opened 2016); the 12,5 percent VAT remains postponed indefinitely (as of 2025), the IMF continues to recommend its introduction. As of: June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical-arid; Aruba lies largely outside the main hurricane belt, occasional tropical storm risk roughly June to November can disrupt sea and air traffic.

Main seaports

Sint Nicolaas Baai
Sint Nicolaas Bay (AWSNL): oil and bunkering terminal of the Lago refinery, Aruba. No container/breakbulk. Container imports via Barcadera.

Main cargo airports

Queen Beatrix International AirportAUA
Queen Beatrix Airport (AUA/TNCA), Aruba: mostly belly cargo, Swissport cargo warehouse, seafood exports, customs. Curaçao and Miami as alternatives.

Road corridors

Oranjestad - Barcadera - San Nicolas (L.G. Smith / Sasaki Highway)

Main trade lanes

Aruba - USA
Aruba - Netherlands
Aruba - Colombia
Aruba - Venezuela

Customs and import

Customs authority Departamento di Aduana (Douane Aruba) – Inspectie der Invoerrechten en AccijnzenOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Import clearance by the Departamento di Aduana. Import duty (invoerrechten) on a CIF basis in AWG; median rate about 12 percent, basic goods 0 to 12 percent, luxury goods higher.
Export customs system: Export clearance through the Departamento di Aduana. As an EU OCT, goods of Aruban origin enter the EU duty-free, provided the OCT origin rules (sufficient processing) are met.
Import VAT: No VAT. Instead, a tiered sales tax (BBO 2,5 plus BAVP 1,5 plus BAZV 3 equals 7 percent), since 1 August 2023 also applied to imports (customs value). 12,5 percent VAT postponed indefinitely.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: No classic free trade agreement. As an EU OCT, the OCT origin rules apply; goods of Aruban origin receive duty-free EU access. Proof via EUR.1 or origin declaration.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import controls including for weapons, ammunition, narcotics as well as plants and animals (quarantine). Excise duty on alcohol, tobacco and mineral oil products.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Import declaration (Aangifte ten invoer)
If applicable, proof of origin

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Export declaration
If applicable, EUR.1 / origin declaration (OCT)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Low to medium
Port congestion: Low
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Low
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

United States Netherlands China Colombia Venezuela

Top export partners

United States Netherlands Colombia Venezuela Brazil

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Consumer goods
Vehicles
Building materials

Top export goods

Refined petroleum products
Chemical products
Metal scrap
Tourism services

Typical cargo

Food
Fuel / petroleum products
Consumer goods
Vehicles
Building materials

Logistics questions

Is Aruba part of the EU customs territory?

No. Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, as an EU Overseas Country and Territory (OCT), is not part of the EU customs territory. However, goods of Aruban origin can be imported into the EU duty-free under the OCT origin rules.

Is there value added tax (VAT) on imports?

No, there is no VAT. Aruba levies a tiered sales tax made up of BBO (2,5 percent), BAVP (1,5 percent) and BAZV (3 percent), together 7 percent. Since 1 August 2023 this is also levied on imports based on the customs value. A planned 12,5 percent VAT has been postponed indefinitely.

What are the import duties in Aruba?

Import duties (invoerrechten) are calculated on the CIF value in Aruban florin. The median rate is about 12 percent; basic everyday goods range between 0 and 12 percent, luxury goods are higher. Excise duties are additionally levied on alcohol, tobacco and mineral oil products.

Which authority is responsible for customs clearance?

The Departamento di Aduana (Douane Aruba), the Inspectie der Invoerrechten en Accijnzen, is responsible. It handles imports and exports, levies duties and excise taxes, and monitors cross-border trade in goods.

Through which ports and airports does freight traffic pass?

The main cargo port is the Multi Cargo Sea Terminal in Barcadera, operated by the Aruba Ports Authority. The port of Oranjestad mainly serves cruise ships and car carriers. Air freight runs through Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad.

Which documents are required for import?

Typically required are the commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document (Bill of Lading or Air Waybill) and an import declaration (Aangifte ten invoer) submitted to the Departamento di Aduana. Depending on the goods, a proof of origin or additional permits may be required.

Which logistics risks should be considered?

As a small island, Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and relies on a few liner services; transshipment partly takes place via the USA, the Netherlands and the neighboring region. Aruba lies largely outside the main hurricane belt, but there is still some tropical storm risk, for example from June to November.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗