Chad: sanctions and trade risk

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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Chad.

Latest changes

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Logistics profile

Chad: logistics and trade

Landlocked Central African country and oil exporter; foreign trade mainly via Cameroonian corridors.

Chad (ISO code: TD) lies in Central Africa and borders Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. Politically it is a presidential republic with centralised governance and regional security challenges. The climate ranges from arid Sahara in the north through semi-arid savannah in the centre to tropical conditions in the south, with a rainy season from May to October. The economy rests on oil production, agriculture and livestock; crude oil and farm products are the main sources of revenue. Chad mainly exports crude oil, livestock, sesame, gum arabic and cotton, while depending heavily on imports of consumer goods, energy, machinery and vehicles. In logistics terms Chad is fully landlocked with no seaport and no railway: about 79 percent of imports run via the port of Douala in Cameroon, by rail to Ngaoundere and then by road to N'Djamena. The national currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). Strategic investment focuses on transport infrastructure, corridors and energy projects to cut transit times and costs and improve regional integration.

Capital: N’Djamena
Population: 20,299,123
Area: 1,284,000 km²
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Continent: Africa
Region: Central Africa (CEMAC)
Economic area: CEMAC customs union / ECCAS / AfCFTA
Religions: Islam, Christianity
Access to the sea: Landlocked

Transport modes Road · Air

Current situation: The Douala–Ngaoundéré–N'Djamena corridor (rail to Ngaoundéré, then about 500 km by road) is the main artery; average transit around 12 days. World Bank project PCDN (2024-2032) is intended to speed it up.
Seasonal conditions: Rainy season from May to October (more pronounced in the south) makes unpaved roads temporarily impassable. In the north Sahara heat and sandstorms (Harmattan); corridors seasonally restricted.

Main cargo airports

N'Djamena International AirportNDJ
N'Djamena (NDJ), air gateway for landlocked Chad: belly cargo via Ethiopian, Turkish, Qatar; UNHAS relief flights; heavy goods by road from Douala.
Moundou AirportMQQ
Moundou Airport (MQQ): serves Chad's southern industrial hub (cotton, Gala beer, Doba oil). No cargo airlines; air freight routes via N'Djamena (NDJ).
Abeche AirportAEH
Abéché Airport (AEH/FTTC), Chad: UNHAS humanitarian base, no commercial air cargo. Freight clears via N'Djamena (NDJ) and the Douala corridor.
Sarh AirportSRH
Sarh Airport (SRH) is a key logistics hub in Chad, offering efficient connections for air freight and transportation needs.

Road corridors

Douala–Ngaoundéré–N'Djamena (main corridor via Cameroon)
N'Djamena–Adré–Sudan
N'Djamena–Kousséri–Maiduguri (Nigeria)
Moundou/Sarh–Central African Republic

Rail corridors

No own rail network; rail link via Camrail (Cameroon) to Ngaoundéré, then road to N'Djamena

Main trade lanes

Douala (Cameroon) – N'Djamena
Chad – Kribi (crude oil pipeline)
N'Djamena – Sudan (Adré)

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Member of the CEMAC customs union; import duty under the Common External Tariff (TEC) with bands of 5/10/20/30 percent. Electronic clearance via ASYCUDA/SYDONIA of the DGDDI.
Export customs system: Export declaration with the DGDDI via ASYCUDA/SYDONIA. The most important export good is crude oil (Chad–Cameroon pipeline to Kribi); also livestock, sesame, gum arabic and cotton.
Import VAT: Standard VAT rate 18 percent on customs value plus import duty; exports at zero rate. Exemptions include, among others, inputs for livestock/fishing and cotton production (Code Général des Impôts).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Duty-free trade within CEMAC with proof of origin. AfCFTA ratified. Duty-free EU market access as an LDC under Everything But Arms; no agreement with Switzerland/EFTA.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Permits required for, among others, weapons, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, and certain food/animal products (veterinary/plant protection controls). Counterfeit goods prohibited.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Waybill / bill of lading
Certificate of origin
Import permit (authorisation)
Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC)
Veterinary/plant health certificates (if required)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export declaration (DGDDI/SYDONIA)
Certificate of origin (CEMAC/AfCFTA)
Waybill
Inspection/quality certificates (if required)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Cameroon China France Nigeria United Arab Emirates

Top export partners

China United States India United Arab Emirates France

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Consumer goods

Top export goods

Crude oil
Livestock
Sesame
Peanuts
Cotton

Typical cargo

Crude oil
Livestock and hides
Sesame
Gum arabic
Cotton
Machinery and vehicles
Petroleum products
Food
Consumer goods

Logistics questions

Does Chad have its own seaport?

No. Chad is a landlocked country without access to the sea. Foreign trade mainly runs through the port of Douala in Cameroon, about 1'700 km from N'Djamena.

Via which corridor do imports reach Chad?

The main route is the Douala-Ngaoundéré-N'Djamena corridor: by rail (Camrail) to Ngaoundéré in Cameroon, then about 500 km by road to N'Djamena. Around 79 percent of imports take this route.

What is the import VAT (TVA) rate?

The standard VAT rate is 18 percent, levied on the customs value plus import duty. Exports are at the zero rate; exemptions apply to certain inputs (including livestock, fishing, cotton).

Which customs tariff applies in Chad?

As a CEMAC member, Chad applies the Common External Tariff (TEC) with bands of 5, 10, 20 and 30 percent. In addition there are community levies (TCI/OHADA/CCI around 1,45 percent) and other fees.

Is there a railway in Chad?

No, Chad has no rail network of its own. The rail link ends in Ngaoundéré (Cameroon); from there goods continue by truck to N'Djamena.

How long does transit take from the port of Douala?

On average around twelve days from Douala to N'Djamena, depending on rail availability, road condition and border clearance. During the rainy season it can take significantly longer.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗