Countries · CI
Côte d'Ivoire: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 5 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Côte d'Ivoire.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Côte d'Ivoire in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Côte d'Ivoire may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
5 entries on the official lists name Côte d'Ivoire — 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Côte d'Ivoire recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Côte d'Ivoire: logistics and trade
West African port and transit hub
Côte d’Ivoire (ISO-Code: CI) is located in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea and borders Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Liberia. Politically, the country is a presidential republic with stable institutions and growing democratic practices. The climate is tropical, with humid coastal regions, drier savannas in the north, and distinct wet and dry seasons. Economically, Côte d’Ivoire plays a central role in West African agriculture, particularly in cocoa, coffee, and palm oil, while industry and services are growing. Foreign trade is crucial, with exports focusing on agricultural products, while the country is heavily dependent on imports for energy, machinery, and consumer goods. Strategically located ports like Abidjan provide an important transit and logistics function for regional supply chains and international trade. The national currency is the CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF), which is pegged to the Euro and supports stable trading relationships. Côte d’Ivoire benefits from its geographical position as a logistical hub in West Africa and as a link between landlocked countries and international markets. The combination of raw material production, growing infrastructure, and a stable currency enhances the country's role in regional and global trade.
- Capital
- Yamoussoukro
- Population
- 31,900,000
- Area
- 322,463 km²
- Currency
- CFA Franc (BCEAO) (XOF)
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- West Africa
- Economic area
- UEMOA (WAEMU); ECOWAS; AfCFTA; WTO member
- Religions
- Islam, Christianity, African religions
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Road · Air · Rail
- Current situation
- Status as of 2026-06-22: Port of Abidjan handled over 40 million tonnes and around 1,65 million TEU in 2024 (second container terminal since 2022). San Pedro is the leading cocoa export port.
- Seasonal conditions
- Tropical climate with two rainy seasons in the south (approximately April to July and October to November); possible disruption to roads and transport.
Main seaports
- Abidjan
Abidjan: West Africa's largest container port, 1.70M TEU in 2025, transit gateway for landlocked Mali and Burkina Faso, cocoa exports and reefer.
- San Pedro
San Pedro (CI SPY), Côte d'Ivoire's second port and the world's top cocoa export harbour: cocoa, rubber, timber, nickel, about 6.24 million tonnes in 2022.
- Baobab Marine Terminal
Baobab Marine Terminal (CI BAO): offshore crude-oil loading 25 km off Côte d'Ivoire via FPSO Baobab Ivoirien MV10. No containers; commercial cargo via Abidjan.
- Espoir Marine Terminal
Espoir (CI ESP): offshore crude oil terminal off Côte d'Ivoire, not a cargo or container port. Ship general freight via Abidjan or San-Pédro.
Main cargo airports
- Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International AirportABJ
Port Bouët (ABJ), Abidjan: 34,844 t of air cargo in 2025, Menzies handling, bellyhold to Paris and Istanbul, cocoa exports, alternatives Accra and Lomé.
Road corridors
- Abidjan - Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
- Abidjan - Bamako (Mali)
- Abidjan - Yamoussoukro - Bouaké - North
Rail corridors
- Abidjan - Ouagadougou (Sitarail)
Main trade lanes
- Côte d'Ivoire - Netherlands
- Côte d'Ivoire - USA
- Côte d'Ivoire - France
- China - Côte d'Ivoire
- Côte d'Ivoire - Belgium
Customs and import
Customs authority Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Imports are processed through the GUCE single window. Before customs clearance, an RFCV (Classification and Value Report) is required. Customs duty follows the UEMOA/ECOWAS common external tariff (CET) with five bands.
- Export customs system
- Export customs clearance is handled via GUCE and the customs authority DGD. For cocoa, coffee, cotton and cashew, a weight certificate from the Chamber of Commerce (CCI) and a phytosanitary certificate are required.
- Import VAT
- 18 percent (TVA) on CIF value plus duties
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- A certificate of origin (two certified copies) is required. Within UEMOA and ECOWAS, preferences apply under regional rules of origin; the CET is the common external tariff.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Restricted: textiles, petroleum products, livestock and animal products, alcohol over 20 Vol., pharmaceuticals (DPML registration). Prohibited: drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, pornography, CITES species.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice (two French copies)
- Certificate of origin (two certified copies)
- RFCV (from FOB 1 million XOF)
- Packing list (recommended)
- Transport document (B/L, AWB, CMR)
Typical export documents
- Export customs declaration
- Commercial invoice
- Certificate of origin
- Weight certificate (CCI, for cocoa/coffee/cotton/cashew)
- Phytosanitary certificate
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium to high
- Customs delays
- Medium to high
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Petroleum products
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Food
- Chemicals
Top export goods
- Cocoa
- Crude oil
- Gold
- Cashew nuts
- Rubber
Typical cargo
- Cocoa
- Cashew nuts
- Rubber
- Gold
- Crude oil and petroleum products
- Machinery
- Vehicles
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 Côte d'Ivoire and how is clearance handled?
The responsible authority is the Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD). Clearance is handled through the national single window GUCE (Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur). Before customs clearance, importers must obtain an RFCV (Classification and Value Report).
What is the import tax (VAT) rate in Côte d'Ivoire?
Value added tax (TVA) is 18 percent and is charged on the CIF value plus duties. Smaller charges are added, such as the statistics fee and ECOWAS and UEMOA community levies.
Which external tariff applies to imports?
Côte d'Ivoire applies the common external tariff (CET) of ECOWAS and UEMOA with five bands: 0, 5, 10, 20 and 35 percent. Basic goods such as medicines are often duty-free, consumer goods are at 20 percent, and luxury and sensitive goods are at 35 percent.
What is the RFCV and when is it required?
The RFCV (Final Classification and Value Report) is a mandatory classification and value report submitted via GUCE. It is required for imports with an FOB value of 1 million XOF (about 1600 USD) or more and is usually issued within five working days.
Which ports and airports are the most important?
The most important port is Abidjan (Port Autonome d'Abidjan), with over 40 million tonnes and around 1,65 million TEU in 2024; San Pedro is the world's leading cocoa export port. The most important cargo airport is Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny (ABJ).
Which documents do I need for importing into Côte d'Ivoire?
The usual documents are a commercial invoice (two French copies), a certificate of origin (two certified copies), the RFCV, a transport document (B/L, AWB or CMR), and a packing list (recommended, as it speeds up clearance).
How is Côte d'Ivoire relevant as a transit country for landlocked states?
Through road and rail corridors (Sitarail to Ouagadougou), Côte d'Ivoire supplies the landlocked states of Mali and Burkina Faso. The port of Abidjan is a central transshipment point for their foreign trade.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 22 Jun 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.