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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Cabo Verde.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Cabo Verde recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Cabo Verde: logistics and trade

Atlantic island state and maritime transit/bunkering hub

Cabo Verde (ISO-Code: CV) is an island nation in the Central Atlantic, approximately 570 kilometers west of the coast of Senegal. Politically, the country is regarded as a stable parliamentary democracy with clear rule-of-law structures. The climate is predominantly dry and tropical, characterized by low rainfall and warm temperatures year-round. Cabo Verde has a limited internal market, with its economic significance primarily in the service sector, particularly tourism and shipping. Its location in the Atlantic provides the country with a strategic transit function for maritime traffic between Africa, Europe, and America. Foreign trade is heavily import-dependent, especially concerning food, energy, and industrial goods. Exports are concentrated on fish products, textiles, and agricultural products. The national currency is the Cabo Verde Escudo (CVE), which is pegged to the Euro and offers a stable trading foundation. Logistically, international partners benefit from well-developed port facilities on the main islands, which act as regional hubs. The combination of a geostrategic location, stable politics, and growing service markets makes Cabo Verde a relevant player in maritime infrastructure and transatlantic trade.

Capital: Praia
Population: 590,000
Area: 4,033 km²
Currency: Cape Verde Escudo (CVE)
Continent: Africa
Region: West Africa / Atlantic
Economic area: ECOWAS; EU special partnership; GSP+; AfCFTA; WTO member
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: ENAPOR has been investing around 50 million euros in port modernisation since 2020. Vinci Airports has operated seven airports since 2023 under a 40-year concession.
Seasonal conditions: Dry tropical climate; rainy season August to October with occasional storms. Harmattan dust from the Sahara can affect visibility and air operations.

Main seaports

Porto Grande
Porto Grande (CV GRA), Mindelo: Cabo Verde's main cargo gateway for containers, bunkering and Atlantic transshipment, run by ENAPOR. Alternative: Praia.
Porto Da Praia
Porto da Praia (CV RAI): main commercial port of Cape Verde on Santiago. Containers, RoRo, bulk, 14 m depth. Transhipment hub: Porto Grande, Mindelo.

Main cargo airports

Amílcar Cabral International AirportSID
Amílcar Cabral (SID), Sal: Cape Verde largest airport. Just 443 t cargo in 2019; tourism-driven with belly freight only. Real airfreight routes via Lisbon or Dakar.
Nelson Mandela International AirportRAI
Nelson Mandela International (RAI/GVNP) in Praia, Cabo Verde: modest cargo volumes, mainly belly freight, seaport 4 km away, Sal (SID) as alternative.
Cesária Évora AirportVXE
Cesária Évora Airport (VXE, GVSV), São Vicente: 253,077 passengers and 214 t of cargo in 2019, belly freight only. Sea via Porto Grande, airfreight via Sal SID/Lisbon.

Main trade lanes

Europe (Portugal/Spain) - Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde - West Africa (ECOWAS)
Transatlantic bunkering and transshipment

Customs and import

Customs authority General Directorate of Customs (Direcao Geral das Alfandegas), part of the DNRE in the Ministry of FinanceOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Imports via the Direcao Geral das Alfandegas; ad valorem duty 0 to 50 percent plus import IVA and special consumption tax. WTO member, ECOWAS Common External Tariff being gradually implemented since 2022.
Export customs system: Export processing via the Direcao Geral das Alfandegas. Preferences via ECOWAS ETLS and EU GSP+. Trade operator certificate required, plus a licence depending on the goods.
Import VAT: IVA standard rate 15 percent; reduced rate 8 percent (incl. food, medicines). Additionally, special consumption tax on certain goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proofs of origin for ECOWAS ETLS and EU preferences (GSP plus). Cabo Verde has been gradually implementing the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) since 2022.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Non-automatic licence for medicines, fuel and weapons. CITES restrictions for protected species. Import of the national currency CVE is prohibited.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
Certificate of origin (if required)
Import licence / trade operator certificate
Health/phytosanitary certificate (product-dependent)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
Certificate of origin
Packing list
Export licence (product-dependent)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Portugal Spain China Netherlands France

Top export partners

Spain Portugal Italy France Netherlands

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Vehicles
Machinery
Consumer goods

Top export goods

Fish
Shoes
Textiles
Electronics

Typical cargo

Food
Petroleum products / fuel
Vehicles
Machinery
Fish and fish products
Consumer goods

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Cabo Verde?

The General Directorate of Customs (Direcao Geral das Alfandegas), which is part of the National Directorate of State Revenue (DNRE) in the Ministry of Finance, is responsible. Declarations are usually submitted through authorised customs agents.

What is the import tax (IVA) rate in Cabo Verde?

The standard VAT (IVA) rate is 15 percent; a reduced rate of 8 percent applies to certain food and medicines, among others. In addition, a special consumption tax applies to certain goods.

What are the import duty rates?

Ad valorem duties range from 0 to 50 percent of the customs value, depending on the type of goods. Cabo Verde is a WTO member and has been gradually implementing the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) since 2022. The currently applicable tariff should be checked with the customs administration.

Which licences do I need for import?

The basic principle is automatic licensing. Goods subject to sanitary, phytosanitary or security-related requirements, as well as medicines, fuel and weapons, require a non-automatic licence. Importers also need a trade operator certificate, issued through the chambers of commerce.

Which ports and airports are the most important?

The main seaports are Porto Grande in Mindelo (Sao Vicente) and Porto da Praia (Santiago), operated by the port authority ENAPOR. For air freight, the international airports Amilcar Cabral (SID) on Sal and Nelson Mandela (RAI) in Praia, which have been operated by Vinci Airports since 2023, handle air cargo.

Which trade agreements apply to Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde is a member of ECOWAS and the WTO, a party to the AfCFTA, and benefits from the EU GSP plus with duty-advantaged access to the EU market. Since 2007 there has also been an EU special partnership. Proofs of origin are required for preferences.

Is the national currency pegged to the euro?

Yes. The Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) is firmly pegged to the euro through an exchange rate agreement, which provides a stable basis for calculation in trade with the euro area. Import of CVE cash is prohibited.

What transit and delivery times should be expected?

As an island state, Cabo Verde depends entirely on sea and air transport. Sea freight from Europe (mainly Portugal and Spain) is the most cost-effective option but requires longer lead times. Handling is concentrated in a few ports, so buffer times should be planned.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗