Bahamas: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 2 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Bahamas.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

2 entries on the official lists name Bahamas — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	2	2	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Bahamas recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Bahamas: logistics and trade

Caribbean Transshipment Hub

The Bahamas (ISO code: BS) is an island nation located in the western Atlantic, northeast of Cuba and southeast of the USA. Politically, it is an independent Commonwealth country with a parliamentary democracy and the British monarch as the head of state. The climate is tropical-maritime, characterized by warm temperatures, high humidity, and a rainy and hurricane season from June to November. Economically, the country is based on tourism, financial services, and fishing, with the tourism sector accounting for the largest share of the gross domestic product. Foreign trade focuses on imports of food, fuels, and consumer goods, while exports represent only a small part of the economy. The Bahamas serves a limited transit function in the Caribbean, mainly through the ports of Nassau and Freeport. The national currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD), which is widely used alongside the US Dollar. The logistical infrastructure includes ports, airports, and road networks that support the movement of goods and the tourism sector. Thanks to stable political structures, strategic location, and modern infrastructure, the Bahamas is an important hub for trade, tourism, and financial services in the region.

Capital: Nassau
Population: 410,000
Area: 13,880 km²
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean
Economic area: CARICOM / CARIFORUM
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Freeport Container Port (Hutchison Ports) is one of the deepest and largest transshipment terminals in the Caribbean, located about 100 miles off Miami.
Seasonal conditions: Hurricane season from June to November with risk of severe storms, peaks usually from August to October. Heat and high humidity year-round.

Main cargo airports

Lynden Pindling International AirportNAS
Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) is the main gateway of The Bahamas at Nassau: FedEx, UPS, DHL, US preclearance and links to the Family Islands.
Grand Bahama International AirportFPO
Grand Bahama International (FPO), Freeport: USD 100m redevelopment under Manchester Airports Group, free-trade zone and sea-air link to the container port.

Main trade lanes

Bahamas - USA (Florida)
Freeport transshipment - North/Latin America
Bahamas - EU (CARIFORUM EPA)

Customs and import

Customs authority Bahamas Customs Department (Customs and Excise)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic processing via Click2Clear (C2C), the national single-window system of Bahamas Customs for the import and export of cargo.
Export customs system: Export declarations are also processed through the Click2Clear (C2C) single window of Bahamas Customs.
Import VAT: VAT of 10 percent on most imports (as of 2026); for certain basic goods, reduced to 5 percent in some cases. In addition, import duty depending on the type of goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proofs of origin under the CARIFORUM-EU EPA (EUR.1 or origin declaration), as well as CARICOM rules of origin in regional trade.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited, among others: obscene material, counterfeit currency, unfit food. Restricted: weapons/ammunition (police permit), fireworks, vehicles older than 10 years, liquefied gas.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
Packing list
Import declaration via Click2Clear
If applicable, import permit/license

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading
Packing list
Export declaration via Click2Clear
If applicable, certificate of origin (EPA)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States China Netherlands Japan South Korea

Top export partners

United States Canada United Kingdom China Netherlands

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Vehicles
Consumer goods
Construction materials

Top export goods

Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals
Seafood
Salt

Typical cargo

Food
Petroleum products/fuels
Consumer goods
Construction materials
Container transshipment

Logistics questions

How are imports cleared in the Bahamas?

Customs clearance is handled electronically through the Bahamas Customs single-window system Click2Clear (C2C). Importers or their brokers submit declarations and documents digitally.

What is the import VAT rate?

The standard VAT rate is 10 percent and applies to most imports; for selected essential goods it has been reduced to 5 percent. Customs duty is charged on top, depending on the goods.

What are the main ports?

Freeport Container Port on Grand Bahama is one of the Caribbean's largest transshipment hubs. Nassau Container Port (Arawak Cay) serves the main population centre on New Providence.

Which goods are prohibited or restricted?

Prohibited items include obscene material, counterfeit money and unfit food. Restricted goods include firearms and ammunition (police permit), fireworks, LPG and vehicles older than ten years.

Do the Bahamas benefit from trade agreements?

As a CARICOM and CARIFORUM member, the Bahamas is part of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which grants exports to the EU largely duty-free and quota-free access.

What seasonal risks affect logistics?

The main risk is the hurricane season from June to November, peaking between August and October. Severe storms can temporarily shut down ports and airports and disrupt supply chains.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗