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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Gabon.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Gabon recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Gabon: logistics and trade

Commodity exporter, central Africa's hub for oil and manganese

Gabon (ISO code: GA) is located in Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea and borders Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. Politically the country is a presidential republic; following the 2023 coup and the 2025 election, the administration is in a consolidation phase. The climate is equatorial, characterized by high temperatures, high humidity and distinct rainy seasons along the coast and in the rainforest. Economically, Gabon plays an important role in raw material production, particularly oil, manganese and timber, while agriculture and services make supplementary contributions. Foreign trade is central: exports consist mainly of oil, manganese and processed wood, while the country is highly dependent on imports for industrial goods, food and energy. Strategically located ports such as Owendo and Port-Gentil secure the transit and logistics function for supplying the country and regional markets. The national currency is the CFA Franc BEAC (XAF), pegged to the euro, which enables stable trade and financial transactions. Customs and foreign trade operate within the CEMAC customs union through the DGDDI.

Capital: Libreville
Population: 2,538,952
Area: 267,668 km²
Currency: CFA Franc (BEAC) (XAF)
Continent: Africa
Region: Central Africa
Economic area: CEMAC (customs union)
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road · Rail

Current situation: Owendo handles container and manganese throughput; the Transgabon railway connects Moanda/Franceville with the port. Diversification via the Nkok timber special economic zone. As of 2026-06-22.
Seasonal conditions: Equatorial climate with long rainy seasons (roughly September to May, with a break in July/August). Heavy rainfall can affect tracks and inland transport.

Main seaports

Port Owendo
Owendo (GA OWE), Gabon's main commercial port near Libreville: manganese ore, okoumé timber, containers and breakbulk, with Transgabonais rail links.
Libreville
Libreville (GA LBV) is an open roadstead; Gabon's containers run via Owendo (250,000 TEU cap., ~185,000 in 2024). Timber, manganese, oil. Alt: Pointe-Noire.
Port Gentil
Port-Gentil (GA POG), Gabon's oil and industrial port on the Gulf of Guinea: crude, timber, palm oil, fish, bunkers. Containers via Owendo.
Oguendjo Terminal
Oguendjo (GA OGU): offshore crude oil terminal off Gabon with FSO Fernan Vaz, no container or general cargo. Alternatives: Owendo and Port-Gentil.
Cap Lopez
Cap Lopez (GA CLZ): crude-oil tanker terminal near Port-Gentil, Gabon, no container traffic. Perenco adds LNG/LPG from 2026. Alternative: Owendo, Libreville.
Dussafu Terminal
Dussafu Terminal (FPSO BW Adolo) is an offshore crude-oil loading point off Gabon. No container or breakbulk; use Owendo or Port-Gentil for general cargo.

Main cargo airports

Libreville Leon M'ba International AirportLBV
Léon-Mba Libreville (LBV): Gabon's main air cargo gateway, 40,000 t terminal, DHL Express, rail link to deep-water Port of Owendo.
Port Gentil AirportPOG
Port-Gentil Airport (POG): air link for Gabon's oil capital on Mandji Island. Afrijet flights, oil-service cargo; intercontinental freight via Libreville (LBV).

Road corridors

Libreville–Owendo
Libreville–Bitam–Cameroon border (RN2)
Libreville–Lambaréné–Franceville (RN1)

Rail corridors

Transgabonais: Owendo–Booué–Franceville (manganese, timber)

Main trade lanes

Gabon–China
Gabon–EU (France, Italy)
Gabon–USA
Gabon–South Korea

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)Official website ↗

Import customs system: CEMAC customs union with a common external tariff (TEC); four bands from 5 to 30 percent depending on the product category. Customs clearance is handled by the DGDDI, with electronic processing being expanded.
Export customs system: Export processing is handled by the DGDDI under CEMAC rules. Crude oil, manganese and timber dominate. Since 2010 there has been an export ban on unprocessed roundwood, while processed wood is promoted (Nkok special economic zone).
Import VAT: Standard import VAT rate of 18 percent on the CIF value plus customs duty, collected by the tax administration (DGI). Reduced or zero rates apply to certain goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proof of origin under CEMAC rules in the regional market; Gabon has signed the AfCFTA. No EU economic partnership agreement is in force. Preferences depend on the agreement.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Restrictions and bans apply to, among others, weapons, drugs, protected species (CITES, ivory) and the export of unprocessed roundwood. Import controls apply to food, pharmaceuticals and dangerous goods.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Import declaration (DGDDI)
Certificate of origin
If applicable, inspection or conformity certificate

Typical export documents

Export declaration (DGDDI)
Commercial invoice
Packing list
Proof of origin
Bill of lading
If applicable, CITES or phytosanitary certificate

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

France China Belgium United States South Korea

Top export partners

China United States France Italy South Korea

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Food
Consumer goods
Construction materials

Top export goods

Crude oil
Manganese
Timber
Crude oil derivatives
Gold

Typical cargo

Crude oil
Manganese
Processed timber
Machinery
Vehicles
Food

Logistics questions

What is the import tax (VAT) in Gabon?

The standard VAT rate is 18 percent and is charged on the CIF value plus customs duty. The tax administration (DGI) is responsible. Reduced or zero rates apply to certain goods.

Which customs tariff applies to imports into Gabon?

Gabon belongs to the CEMAC customs union and applies the common external tariff (TEC), with four bands from 5 to 30 percent depending on the product category. Customs clearance is handled by the DGDDI.

What are Gabon's main ports?

Owendo near Libreville is the main multipurpose and container port and also handles manganese. Port-Gentil is the central oil port, and the smaller port of Mayumba also exists.

How is manganese transported from Moanda?

Manganese is transported by the Transgabon railway (Transgabonais) from Franceville/Moanda to the port of Owendo and shipped from there. The railway is the logistical backbone of raw material exports.

Which currency is used in Gabon?

Gabon uses the CFA franc BEAC (XAF), issued by the central bank BEAC. It is pegged to the euro (1 euro = 655,957 XAF), which enables stable trade and financial transactions.

Is it permitted to export unprocessed roundwood from Gabon?

No. Since 2010 there has been an export ban on unprocessed roundwood. Processed wood is promoted, including through the Nkok special economic zone near Libreville.

Which documents are required for import?

Typical documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, the DGDDI import declaration, and a certificate of origin, and where applicable inspection or conformity certificates.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗