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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Greenland.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Greenland recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Greenland: logistics and trade

Arctic island logistics / fishery export hub

Greenland (ISO code: GL) is the world's largest island, lying between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, and is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It has its own government and parliament, while Denmark handles defence and foreign affairs. The climate is Arctic, with long cold winters, short summers and a predominant ice-sheet cover. The economy centres on fisheries, fish processing, mining and a growing services sector, while agriculture and industry are limited. Foreign trade is heavily focused on fish and seafood, and the country depends strongly on imports of food, fuel and industrial goods. As an EU Overseas Country and Territory (OCT), Greenland lies outside the EU customs territory; there is no VAT. Supply runs almost entirely by sea via the state-owned Royal Arctic Line and by air through Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. The currency is the Danish krone (DKK).

Capital: Nuuk
Population: 56,542
Area: 2,166,086 km²
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Continent: North America
Region: Arctic / North Atlantic
Economic area: EU OCT (associated), outside the EU customs territory; Kingdom of Denmark
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Expanded Nuuk Airport (GOH) international since 2024; container traffic via Royal Arctic Line in cooperation with Eimskip (hub Aalborg). EU fisheries agreement 2025-2030 in force.
Seasonal conditions: Arctic climate: sea ice, icebergs, storms and polar winter affect ship and air traffic; northern ports are in some cases reachable only when ice-free in season.

Main seaports

Nuuk
Port of Nuuk (GL GOH), Greenland's largest: container terminal with 500 reefer plugs, run by Royal Arctic Line. Imports consumer goods, exports frozen fish.
Sisimiut
Sisimiut (GL JHS): Greenland port on the Davis Strait for community resupply and fish exports via Royal Arctic Line. Cargo profile, containers, alternatives.
Aasiaat
Aasiaat (GL JEG): Royal Arctic Line feeder port on Disko Bay, Greenland — frozen fish exports, community resupply, links via Nuuk to Aalborg.
Ilulissat (Jakobshavn)
Ilulissat (GL JAV) on Disko Bay: Royal Arctic Line feeder port and Royal Greenland prawn/halibut reefer exports. Main container hub is Nuuk.

Main cargo airports

Nuuk AirportGOH
Nuuk (GOH/BGGH): Greenland's international hub since late 2024 with a 2,200 m runway, non-stop Copenhagen flights. National cargo handling by Air Greenland.
Kangerlussuaq AirportSFJ
Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ): Greenland's former transatlantic hub, now domestic network; the cargo hub is Nuuk (GOH, approx. 320 km).
Ilulissat AirportJAV
Ilulissat Airport (JAV/BGJN): new 2,200 m runway, direct Copenhagen flight from 29 Oct 2026 on A330neo. Sea freight via Royal Arctic Line, cargo hub Nuuk (GOH).

Main trade lanes

Greenland-Aalborg (Denmark)
Greenland-Reykjavik (Iceland)
Greenland-Northern Europe (Eimskip/RAL)

Customs and import

Customs authority Greenlandic Tax Authority (Akileraartarnermut Aqutsisoqarfik / Skattestyrelsen)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Own import customs declaration with the Greenlandic Tax Authority (aka.gl); Greenland lies outside the EU customs territory, EU customs systems do not apply. Duties based on CIF value.
Export customs system: Export declaration with the Greenlandic Tax Authority (aka.gl); for dual-use goods, an additional licence via the Ministry of Industry and Energy in Nuuk.
Import VAT: No VAT in Greenland. Import duties (customs) on certain goods such as vehicles, alcohol, tobacco and food, calculated on the CIF value.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: As an EU OCT, Greenlandic fishery products have duty-free access to the EU market; proof of origin under EU OCT origin rules (e.g. EUR.1 / origin declaration).
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import and export restrictions include, among others, weapons, endangered species (CITES) and certain foods. Export of uranium/thorium ore over 500 kg/year requires a licence.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Import customs declaration (aka.gl)
Proof of origin (if required)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export declaration
Proof of origin (EUR.1 / origin declaration)
Health/veterinary certificate (fish)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Denmark China Germany Norway United States

Top export partners

Denmark China Japan Norway South Korea

Top import goods

Food
Fuel
Machinery
Vehicles
Building materials

Top export goods

Fish
Seafood
Minerals

Typical cargo

Fish and seafood products (export)
Food
Fuel
Machinery
Building materials
Consumer goods (import)

Logistics questions

Is there VAT in Greenland?

No. Greenland levies no VAT. Instead, import duties apply to certain goods such as vehicles, alcohol, tobacco and food products on the CIF value. Operating equipment is generally exempt from general import duties.

Is Greenland part of the EU or the EU customs territory?

No. Greenland left the then EEC in 1985 and is today an EU-associated Overseas Country and Territory (OCT). It lies outside the EU customs territory and single market, but as an OCT enjoys duty-free access for fishery products to the EU market.

Which authority administers customs and imports?

The Greenland Tax Agency (Akileraartarnermut Aqutsisoqarfik / Skattestyrelsen, aka.gl) is responsible and administers Greenland's own tax and customs system separately from Denmark. Import declarations are filed with this authority.

How do goods reach Greenland?

Supply runs almost entirely by sea via the state-owned Royal Arctic Line, which in cooperation with Eimskip sails through the Aalborg (Denmark) hub and Reykjavik. The main ports are Nuuk, Sisimiut and Aasiaat. Air freight via Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq airports complements this.

What export controls apply in Greenland?

For dual-use items, Executive Order No. 67 of 2018 applies, whose control list is identical to the EU list. Applications go to the Ministry of Industry and Energy in Nuuk, which forwards them to the Danish Business Authority. Export of uranium/thorium ore above 500 kg/year requires a licence.

Which currency is used?

Greenland uses the Danish krone (DKK) as legal tender. There is no separate Greenlandic currency.

What seasonal risks affect logistics?

The Arctic climate with sea ice, icebergs, storms and polar winter affects shipping and air traffic. Northern and remote ports are only seasonally ice-free, limiting supply planning and frequency.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗