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

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

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

Check a shipment to Eritrea →

On the sanctions lists

3 entries on the official lists name Eritrea — 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)	2	2	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Eritrea recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Eritrea: logistics and trade

Red Sea port location / commodity exporter

Eritrea (ISO-Code: ER) is located at the Horn of Africa by the Red Sea, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Politically, the country is a unitary presidential republic with a centralized leadership and limited democratic structures. The climate is predominantly arid to semi-arid, with hot temperatures in coastal and desert regions, as well as cooler conditions in highland areas. Economically, Eritrea is heavily oriented towards mining, agriculture, and port operations, while international trade remains limited. Foreign trade primarily includes raw materials and food imports, while the country is highly dependent on imports of machinery, fuel, and consumer goods. Strategically located ports like Massawa ensure transit and logistics functions for regional trade in the Red Sea. The national currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN), which enables stable trade and financial transactions within the country. Eritrea plays a role as a regional logistics hub and benefits from its location on key shipping routes. Infrastructure, geographical location, and resource orientation shape the economic and logistical significance of the country.

Capital: Asmara
Population: 3,800,000
Area: 117,600 km²
Currency: Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)
Continent: Africa
Region: East Africa / Horn of Africa
Economic area: COMESA
Religions: Christianity, Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road

Current situation: Eritrea is modernising customs clearance with ASYCUDA World (introduced 2024). Massawa and Assab are the main sea gateways; foreign trade remains limited in volume.
Seasonal conditions: Arid to semi-arid climate; very hot Red Sea coastal region with heat stress for temperature-sensitive goods. Occasional rainy season in the highlands (June to September).

Main seaports

Assab
Assab (ER ASB): Eritrea's Red Sea port — Egypt-Eritrea naval pact Dec 2025, maritime pact May 2026. Strategic role, limited commercial ops.
Mitsiwa Harbor
Massawa (ER MSW), Eritrea's main Red Sea deep-water port for containers, bulk and breakbulk. Terminals, customs, hinterland and alternatives like Djibouti.

Main cargo airports

Asmara International AirportASM
Asmara International Airport (ASM/HHAS), Eritrea: the country's only scheduled airport, belly cargo, payload limits at 2,300 m altitude. Alternative: Massawa seaport.
Veterans Airport of Southern IllinoisMWA
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA): EAS airport in Illinois' deep south with no cargo service. Air freight trucks in from St. Louis or Nashville via I-57/I-24.
Assab International AirportASA
Assab International Airport (ASA/HHSB), Eritrea: 3,515 m runway but no scheduled or cargo flights. Air freight runs via Djibouti-Ambouli; Assab seaport for multimodal.

Road corridors

Massawa - Asmara
Asmara - Keren - Teseney (towards Sudan)
Assab - hinterland

Main trade lanes

Eritrea - China
Eritrea - United Arab Emirates
Eritrea - Saudi Arabia
Eritrea - India

Customs and import

Customs authority Eritrean Customs (Customs and Excise Division, Ministry of Finance)

Import customs system: Since 2024 Eritrea has used ASYCUDA World (UNCTAD) with a single-window approach; it replaced the paper-based legacy system from 2007. Clearance is handled by the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance.
Export customs system: Export clearance is also handled via ASYCUDA World; the main exports are gold, minerals, and agricultural and animal products, via the ports of Massawa and Assab.
Import VAT: No VAT; instead a sales tax (Sales and Excise Tax Regulation 64/1994): 5 percent on certain goods, 10 percent on certain services, 12 percent on other goods; import base CIF plus customs duty and excise tax.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Eritrea is a COMESA member but has not yet fully implemented the COMESA free trade area (as of 2023). No agreement with the EU or EFTA; AfCFTA not signed.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Controls mainly for weapons, ammunition, narcotics and foreign currency. Strict foreign exchange controls; the nakfa is not freely convertible and is subject to export and import restrictions.

Typical import documents

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

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Export licence
Certificate of origin (if applicable, COMESA)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

China United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia India Egypt

Top export partners

China United Arab Emirates Canada South Africa Switzerland

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Petroleum products
Electronic devices
Food

Top export goods

Gold
Precious stones
Agricultural products
Animal products
Salt and marine products

Typical cargo

Gold and minerals
Agricultural and animal products
Machinery and vehicles
Petroleum products
Food

Latest logistics news

Houthis Declare Naval Blockade Against Saudi Arabia – First Tankers Turn Back21 Jul 2026
Houthis declare Saudi port calls a risk. First oil tankers turn back. Bab al-Mandab remains open, but insurance and rerouting risks increase

Logistics questions

Which ports are important for importing into Eritrea?

The two central seaports are Massawa (mainly containers) and Assab (bulk and petroleum products). Both are on the Red Sea and serve the country's foreign trade.

Does Eritrea have a value added tax?

No. Eritrea levies no VAT but a sales tax under the Sales and Excise Tax Regulation 64/1994: 5 percent on certain goods, 10 percent on certain services and 12 percent on other goods.

Which customs system does Eritrea use?

In 2024 Eritrea introduced UNCTAD's ASYCUDA World system, replacing a paper-based legacy system from 2007. It uses a single-window approach.

What currency is used in Eritrea?

The national currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN). It is not freely convertible and is subject to strict foreign-exchange controls, which complicates international payments.

Is Eritrea landlocked?

No. Eritrea lies in the Horn of Africa with a long Red Sea coastline and borders Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

What are Eritrea's main traded goods?

Exports are mainly gold, minerals and agricultural and animal products. Imports are predominantly machinery, vehicles, petroleum products and food.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗