Barbados: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 3 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Barbados.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

3 entries on the official lists name Barbados — 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)	3	3	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Barbados recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Barbados: logistics and trade

Import-dependent island economy / Caribbean transshipment hub

Barbados (ISO-Code: BB) is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles. Politically, the country is a parliamentary democracy and has been independent from the United Kingdom since 1966. The climate is tropical-maritime with distinct rainy and dry seasons, characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity. Economically, Barbados is heavily reliant on services, particularly tourism and financial services, as well as limited agricultural production such as sugarcane. Foreign trade is central to the economy, with imports mainly consisting of food, energy, and consumer goods. The country is highly import-dependent and utilizes its ports as logistical hubs for island supply and regional trade. Barbados has a developed infrastructure for transportation and warehousing, with the port of Bridgetown serving as the main transshipment point. The national currency is the Barbados Dollar (BBD), which is partially pegged to the US Dollar. Due to its geostrategic location, Barbados plays a relevant transit and transshipment role in the Caribbean region.

Capital: Bridgetown
Population: 281,000
Area: 431 km²
Currency: Barbados Dollar (BBD)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean
Economic area: CARICOM
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Barbados dollar pegged to the US dollar (2 BBD = 1 USD). Customs clearance via ASYCUDAWorld. Island supply is mainly by sea freight.
Seasonal conditions: Hurricane season June to November with risk for sea and air freight; tropical storms can temporarily disrupt port operations and supply chains.

Main seaports

Bridgetown
Bridgetown (BB BGI): Barbados's sole port, ~90,000 TEU/yr, Berth 6 commissioned May 2026. Cruise hub, CMA CGM/MSC/Seaboard. Alt: Castries, Port of Spain.

Main cargo airports

Grantley Adams International AirportBGI
Grantley Adams (BGI), Barbados: 1.3m passengers in H1 2026, Amerijet freighters from Miami, US$147m upgrade including a larger cargo area.

Road corridors

ABC Highway
Spring Garden Highway

Main trade lanes

Barbados-USA
Barbados-Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados-United Kingdom
Barbados-Canada

Customs and import

Customs authority Barbados Customs and Excise DepartmentOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: ASYCUDAWorld; SAD declaration with risk management (red/yellow/blue/green channel). Customs value based on CIF. The CARICOM Common External Tariff applies.
Export customs system: Electronic export declaration via ASYCUDAWorld with the Barbados Customs and Excise Department.
Import VAT: VAT standard rate 17,5 percent on imports; reduced 7,5 percent (tourism). Registration threshold 200000 BBD. Exports and basic foods zero-rated.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proofs of origin under CARICOM and the CARIFORUM-EU EPA (e.g. EUR.1 / origin declaration). MFN duties mostly 0 to 20 percent, some items higher.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited: firearms, ammunition, explosives, toy guns, obscene material. Licence required: weapons/ammunition, cannabis, tobacco, spirits.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
SAD (ASYCUDA)
import licence if applicable

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export declaration (SAD)
Proof of origin (EUR.1)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States Trinidad and Tobago China United Kingdom Japan

Top export partners

United States United Kingdom Trinidad and Tobago Canada Jamaica

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Food
Vehicles
Chemicals

Top export goods

Rum
Sugar
Chemicals
Electrical components

Typical cargo

Petroleum products
Food
Vehicles
Chemicals
Rum
Consumer goods

Logistics questions

Which customs system does Barbados use?

Barbados handles imports and exports electronically via ASYCUDAWorld of the Customs and Excise Department. Customs value is calculated on a CIF basis, and the CARICOM Common External Tariff applies.

What is the import VAT rate in Barbados?

The standard VAT rate is 17,5 percent and is levied on the CIF value plus duty. A reduced rate of 7,5 percent applies to certain tourism services; exports and basic foods are zero-rated.

Which goods are prohibited or restricted on import?

Prohibited items include firearms, ammunition, explosives, toy guns and obscene material, among others. Licence is required for weapons and ammunition, cannabis, tobacco products and certain spirits.

Through which ports and airports does freight traffic run?

Sea traffic runs almost entirely through the Port of Bridgetown. Air cargo is handled through Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), the country's only international airport.

Does Barbados benefit from free trade agreements?

Yes. As a CARICOM member, Barbados applies the common external tariff. Since 2008, the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has also granted preferences in trade with the EU.

What seasonal risks exist for logistics?

The hurricane season from June to November can affect sea and air freight. Tropical storms temporarily disrupt port operations and supply chains.

How stable is the currency for trade?

The Barbados dollar is pegged to the US dollar (2 BBD = 1 USD). This peg ensures predictable exchange rates in foreign trade.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗