Equatorial Guinea: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 1 company, organisation, vessel or aircraft linked to Equatorial Guinea.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

Check a shipment to Equatorial Guinea →

On the sanctions lists

1 entries on the official lists name Equatorial Guinea — 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
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Equatorial Guinea recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Equatorial Guinea: logistics and trade

Crude oil and natural gas exporter, maritime location in the Gulf of Guinea

Equatorial Guinea (ISO code GQ) lies on the West African Atlantic coast and consists of a mainland region (Rio Muni) plus several islands, including Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea where the current capital Malabo is located. It is a presidential republic with a highly centralised power structure. The climate is equatorial with year-round high temperatures, high humidity and intense rainfall. Economically the country depends heavily on crude oil and natural gas exports, which shapes its maritime logistics focus. The seaports of Bata (mainland) and Malabo and Luba (Bioko) are the central hubs for foreign trade and energy exports. Fossil fuels dominate exports, while processed goods, food and capital goods are mostly imported. Import dependency is high as local industry shows limited diversification. Equatorial Guinea is a member of the CEMAC customs union and monetary community; the currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), pegged to the euro.

Capital: Malabo
Population: 1,892,516
Area: 28,051 km²
Currency: CFA franc (BEAC) (XAF)
Continent: Africa
Region: Central Africa / CEMAC
Economic area: CEMAC / AfCFTA
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road

Current situation: The economy is strongly shaped by oil and gas exports; diversification and infrastructure expansion (ports of Bata and Malabo, road network) are underway. Ciudad de la Paz was declared the new capital by decree in 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Equatorial climate with high humidity year-round; pronounced rainy seasons can affect sea and road transport on the mainland.

Main seaports

Bata
Bata (GQ BSG): mainland Equatorial Guinea's deep-water port, rebuilt 2014. Container, general-cargo and bulk berths; timber, cocoa, coffee. Alternatives Malabo, Luba.
Malabo
Malabo (GQ SSG) on Bioko is Equatorial Guinea's main port: containers, general cargo, tankers, offshore vessels. Mainland cargo via Bata, liner hub Douala.
Luba
Luba (GQ LUB): deep-water freeport on Bioko, a supply base for Gulf of Guinea oil and gas. For container and breakbulk traffic use Malabo or Bata.
Ceiba Terminal
Ceiba Terminal (Equatorial Guinea): offshore crude-export facility for the Ceiba field, FPSO 'Sendje Ceiba' and CALM buoy. No general cargo. Alternative: Bata.
Punta Europa Terminal
Punta Europa (GQ PET), Bioko: energy terminal for LNG, condensate, LPG and methanol, no containers. Deep water, Alba gas — profile and Malabo alternative.
Serpentina Terminal
Serpentina Terminal (GQ SER) is an offshore crude-oil loading point off Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. No container or general cargo; use Malabo or Bata instead.

Main cargo airports

President Obiang Nguema International AirportGEM
President Obiang Nguema International Airport (GEM) is a key logistics hub, providing efficient air freight and transport solutions in Mengomeyén, GQ.

Road corridors

Bata–Mongomo (mainland towards Gabon)
Bata–Ebebiyín (towards Cameroon)

Main trade lanes

Equatorial Guinea–China
Equatorial Guinea–Spain
Equatorial Guinea–India
Equatorial Guinea–USA

Customs and import

Customs authority Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

Import customs system: Customs clearance via ASYCUDAWorld (SYDONIA). CEMAC common external tariff with four rates (5, 10, 20, 30 percent) on imports from third countries, plus CEMAC integration levy (TCI) of 1 percent and OHADA levy of 0,05 percent.
Export customs system: Export declaration via ASYCUDAWorld at the DGA. Crude oil and natural gas dominate exports, controlled by customs and energy authorities. Within the CEMAC, goods generally move freely.
Import VAT: Standard rate 15 percent (IVA/VAT), reduced rate 5 percent on basic foodstuffs and books, 0 percent on certain medical and construction equipment. Assessed on CIF value plus customs duty.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Within the CEMAC, proof of origin is required for preference; AfCFTA so far only provisional tariff concessions. No free trade agreement with the EU or EFTA/Switzerland; imports are subject to the standard CEMAC tariff.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Restrictions mainly for weapons, ammunition, certain chemicals and some used goods; licensing requirements for pharmaceuticals and food. The oil and gas sector is heavily regulated.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Certificate of origin
Import permit

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading
Export declaration (ASYCUDA)
Certificate of origin

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Spain China United States France Portugal

Top export partners

China Spain India United States South Korea

Top import goods

Machinery
Plants
Consumer goods
Foodstuffs
Construction materials

Top export goods

Crude oil
Natural gas
Petroleum products
Timber

Typical cargo

Crude oil
Natural gas / LNG
Methanol
Timber
Consumer goods
Construction materials

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Equatorial Guinea?

The standard VAT rate (IVA) is 15 percent, calculated on the CIF value plus customs duty. A reduced rate of 5 percent applies to basic foodstuffs and books, and 0 percent to certain medical and construction equipment.

Which customs tariff applies to imports?

As a CEMAC member, Equatorial Guinea applies the common external tariff with four rates: 5 percent for basic goods, 10 percent for raw materials and capital goods, 20 percent for intermediate products and 30 percent for consumer goods. In addition, the CEMAC integration levy (1 percent) and the OHADA levy (0,05 percent) apply.

How is customs clearance handled?

The Dirección General de Aduanas clears shipments electronically through the ASYCUDAWorld (SYDONIA) system. For imports and exports, a commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and certificate of origin are required.

Which ports handle trade?

The main seaports are Bata on the mainland and Malabo and Luba Freeport on Bioko island. Luba specializes in oil and gas logistics, while Malabo and Bata handle general cargo and container traffic.

Which currency is used?

The legal tender is the Central African CFA franc (XAF, BEAC), which is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate. Currency controls apply.

Is there a free trade agreement with Switzerland or the EU?

No. There is no free trade agreement between Equatorial Guinea and the EU or EFTA/Switzerland. Imports are subject to the standard CEMAC tariff. Within Africa, only provisional AfCFTA concessions currently apply.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗