Bolivia: 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 Bolivia.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

3 entries on the official lists name Bolivia — 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 Bolivia recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Bolivia: logistics and trade

Landlocked / Commodity exporter

Bolivia (ISO code: BO) is located in Central South America and borders Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The country is a presidential republic with a federal structure and stable, yet politically heterogeneous institutions. The climate varies significantly by region: tropical humid in the lowlands, semi-arid in the high plains, and cold alpine in the Andes. Economically, Bolivia relies on raw materials such as natural gas, minerals, and agricultural products, while industrial processing is limited. The country is dependent on imports for industrial products, machinery, fuels, and consumer goods. Due to its inland position and limited port access, Bolivia plays a limited transit role, with access through ports in Chile and Peru. Foreign trade is heavily concentrated on energy exports and minerals, while imports meet domestic needs. The national currency is the Boliviano (BOB), which supports stable trade and payment processes. Logistically, the inland status requires an efficient road and railway network to connect to international markets.

Capital: La Paz
Population: 11,365,333
Area: 1,098,581 km²
Currency: Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Continent: South America
Region: South America / Mercosur
Economic area: Mercosur / CAN
Religions: Catholic, Protestant, Indigenous
Access to the sea: Landlocked

Transport modes Air · Road · Rail · Inland waterway

Current situation: Bolivia handles around 90 percent of its foreign trade via Chilean ports (Arica, Antofagasta) and is diversifying toward Ilo (Peru) and Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana. Status: June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Rainy season roughly November to March with floods and landslides in the lowlands and on Andean roads; dry season more favourable for road transport.

Main cargo airports

Viru Viru International AirportVVI
Viru Viru (VVI), Santa Cruz, handles ~80% of Bolivia's air cargo: soybeans, beef and sugar exports, Avianca Cargo A330 freighters, road links to Pacific ports.
El Alto International AirportLPB
El Alto (LPB/SLLP), La Paz: world's highest international airport and Bolivia's second cargo gateway. Belly freight via BoA, Avianca, LATAM; operator NAABOL.
Jorge Wilsterman International AirportCBB
Jorge Wilsterman (CBB/SLCB), Cochabamba: Bolivia's third airport at 2,550 m and BoA base. Mostly belly cargo; main air freight clears via Viru Viru.

Road corridors

Bioceanic Corridor: Santa Cruz - Puerto Suárez - Brazil
Santa Cruz - Cochabamba - La Paz
La Paz - Tambo Quemado - Arica (Chile)
Oruro - Pisiga - Iquique (Chile)

Rail corridors

Red Oriental: Santa Cruz - Puerto Suárez - Brazil
Red Andina: Oruro - Uyuni - Villazón - Argentina / Arica (Chile)

Inland ports

Puerto Aguirre (Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana)
Puerto Busch
Puerto Quijarro / Central Aguirre

Main trade lanes

Bolivia - Brazil
Bolivia - China
Bolivia - Argentina
Bolivia - Chile (transit Arica/Antofagasta)
Bolivia - Peru (transit Ilo/Matarani)

Customs and import

Customs authority Aduana Nacional de Bolivia (ANB)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Import clearance via the electronic import declaration (DUI) in the SIDUNEA++/SUMA system of the Aduana Nacional; duties to be paid within three working days to Banco Union; traffic light channel green, yellow or red.
Export customs system: Export clearance via the electronic export declaration (DEX) in the SIDUNEA system of the Aduana Nacional; port logistics of transit ports are coordinated via the ASP-B.
Import VAT: Import IVA effectively around 14,94 percent (on CIF plus duty). Gravamen Arancelario (GA) generally 10 percent, capital goods 5 or 0 percent (status 2025).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Preference proofs (Certificado de Origen) within Mercosur and CAN (Comunidad Andina) via authorized bodies; Bolivia has been a full Mercosur member since 2024.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import restrictions include, among others, used vehicles (age limits), used clothing, weapons, narcotics as well as protected species (CITES).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice (Factura Comercial)
Transport document (B/L, AWB, CRT)
Packing list
Andean Value Declaration (from USD 5'000)
Certificate of origin (for preferential treatment)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Export declaration (DEX)
Certificate of origin (Certificado de Origen)
Transport document
SENASAG certificate (for agricultural goods)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

China Brazil Argentina Chile United States

Top export partners

Brazil China Argentina Colombia Japan

Top import goods

Mineral oils
Machinery
Vehicles
Electronic devices
Raw materials

Top export goods

Ore
Mineral oils
Precious metals
Soybean oil
Metals

Typical cargo

Natural gas
Minerals and ores (zinc, tin, lead)
Precious metals (gold, silver)
Soy and soy derivatives
Machinery and vehicles (imports)

Latest logistics news

Customs Operation ZAFIRO: Authorities Seize Eleven Small Aircraft10 Sept 2026
19 countries conducted inspections of small and private aircraft. During the operations, eleven aircraft were seized and approximately 1.2 tons of drugs were confiscated.

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Bolivia?

The responsible authority is the Aduana Nacional de Bolivia (ANB). It handles imports and exports, collects customs duties and operates the electronic clearance systems. Information and regulations are available at aduana.gob.bo.

Which system is used for imports?

Imports are declared with the import declaration DUI (Declaracion Unica de Importacion) in the SIDUNEA++ or SUMA system. After acceptance, duties must be paid to Banco Union within three working days; the system then assigns a green, yellow or red channel.

What are the import VAT and customs duty rates?

The import VAT (IVA) is effectively around 14,94 percent (on CIF plus duty and other charges). The Gravamen Arancelario (GA) is 10 percent for most consumer goods and 5 or 0 percent for capital goods (status 2025).

Bolivia is landlocked – through which ports does trade run?

About 90 percent of foreign trade runs through the Chilean ports of Arica and Antofagasta, where Bolivia has its own customs powers under the 1904 treaty. Alternatives are Ilo and Matarani in Peru, as well as the Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana with Puerto Aguirre and Puerto Busch.

Which airport is most important for air freight?

The most important cargo airport is Viru Viru (VVI) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the country's central international hub. El Alto (LPB) near La Paz lies above 4'000 metres, which limits the use of large cargo aircraft.

Which trade agreements apply to Bolivia?

Bolivia is a founding member of the Comunidad Andina (CAN) and has been a full member of Mercosur since July 2024. Tariff preferences can be used for both areas with a Certificado de Origen. Bolivia has four years to adapt its legislation to Mercosur.

Which logistics risks should be considered?

Key risks are the long transit routes due to the landlocked location, dependence on ports in Chile and Peru, occasional road blockades and social conflicts, and the rainy season (November to March) with floods and landslides.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗