Guatemala: sanctions and trade risk

Sanctions programmeEU and Swiss targeted sanctions on individuals.

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 26 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Guatemala.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

A sanctions programme concerning Guatemala is in force — typically an arms embargo or targeted measures against listed persons and entities. Ordinary civilian goods are usually not restricted; arms, related material and listed parties are.

Sources: EU Sanctions Map — Guatemala (12 Jan 2026) · SECO — Massnahmen betreffend Guatemala · reviewed 24 Oct 2026

Check a shipment to Guatemala →

By sanctions regime

The indicator above is the strictest of these. Which regimes are relevant to a shipment depends on many connections — dispatch country, company location, incorporation, nationality, ownership, banks, goods origin. The check selects them from your inputs in a simplified way; UN measures take effect through each country's implementing law.

Regime	Indicator	What applies
UN	—	No UN sanctions regime.
EU	Sanctions programme	Targeted listings (to Jan 2027).
Switzerland	Sanctions programme	Swiss ordinance on Guatemala.
UK	—	No measures against the country itself.
US	—	No measures against the country itself.

On the sanctions lists

26 entries on the official lists name Guatemala — 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)	26	26	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Guatemala recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Guatemala: logistics and trade

Agricultural exporter and Central American transit country with ports on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts

Guatemala (ISO GT) is the most populous country and largest economy in Central America, bordering Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, with coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. The economy combines agriculture, manufacturing (textiles) and services; key exports are coffee, bananas, sugar, cardamom and apparel, while the country relies heavily on imports of fuel, machinery and consumer goods. Import VAT (IVA) is 12 percent on the CIF value, administered by the SAT through the DUCA customs declaration. Guatemala is part of CAFTA-DR, the Central American Common Market and free trade agreements with the EU, EFTA, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Taiwan. The main gateways are Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific and Santo Tomas de Castilla and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean, handling about 96 percent of foreign trade, complemented by La Aurora International Airport (GUA) for air cargo. The currency is the quetzal (GTQ).

Capital: Guatemala City
Population: 17,843,132
Area: 108,889 km²
Currency: Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ)
Continent: North America
Region: Central America / CAFTA-DR
Economic area: SIECA / Central American Common Market (MCCA)
Religions: Catholic, Protestant, Other
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Air · Rail

Current situation: Port throughput in 2025 rose by 11 percent to around 1,12 million containers. The planned Ley de Autoridad Portuaria is to bundle Quetzal, Santo Tomás and Barrios and enable concessions.
Seasonal conditions: Atlantic hurricane season June to November (Caribbean coast); rainy season May to October with landslides; seismic activity and active volcanoes (Fuego) on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Main seaports

Puerto Quetzal
Puerto Quetzal (GTPRQ), Guatemala's main Pacific port: APM & YILPORT container terminals, ~550,000 TEU/year, exports of sugar, coffee and textiles.
Santo Tomas De Castilla
Santo Tomás de Castilla (GTIZ4) handles about 60% of Guatemala's container trade. EMPORNAC-run: coffee, bananas, bulk, RoRo; expansion to 2026.
Puerto Barrios
Puerto Barrios (GTPBR), Guatemala: private Caribbean box terminal with 1,100 reefer plugs, ~525,000 TEU capacity and COBIGUA banana exports. Customs via SAT.

Road corridors

CA-1 Panamericana
CA-2 (Pacific coast)
CA-9 (Guatemala City - Puerto Quetzal or - Puerto Barrios)

Main trade lanes

Guatemala - USA
Guatemala - Central America (SIECA)
Guatemala - China
Guatemala - Mexico
Guatemala - EU

Customs and import

Customs authority Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT) - Intendencia de AduanasOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Imports are processed electronically via DUCA-D (third countries) or DUCA-F (Central American origin); FYDUCA within the customs union with Honduras and El Salvador. Processing by SAT-Aduanas.
Export customs system: Exports are handled via the DUCA (Declaración Única Centroamericana) of SAT; FYDUCA for shipments within the customs union Guatemala-Honduras-El Salvador.
Import VAT: IVA 12 percent on CIF value plus import duty (Decreto 27-92). Small-business regime 5 percent without input VAT deduction.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: EU agreement: EUR.1 or registered exporter (REX). CAFTA-DR and EFTA: origin declaration. Within Central America: DUCA-F.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Permit requirements apply, among others, to weapons and ammunition, agrochemicals, medicines, and food, plant and animal products (MAGA/health controls). Cultural property is protected.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
DUCA-D / import declaration
Bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
Packing list
Proof of origin / preference
If applicable, import licences (MAGA, health)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
DUCA (export declaration)
Transport document
Packing list
Proof of origin (EUR.1/REX/CAFTA)
Phytosanitary certificate (agricultural exports)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States China Mexico El Salvador Costa Rica

Top export partners

United States Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Mexico

Top import goods

Mineral oils
Machinery
Vehicles
Electronics
Chemicals

Top export goods

Coffee
Bananas
Sugar
Vegetables
Textiles

Typical cargo

Coffee
Bananas
Sugar
Cardamom
Textiles and clothing
Palm oil
Mineral oils (imports)
Machinery (imports)

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT (IVA) rate in Guatemala?

VAT (IVA) is 12 percent, levied on the CIF value plus import duty (Decree 27-92). It is the lowest VAT rate in Central America. Source: SAT (portal.sat.gob.gt).

Which system is used for customs declarations?

Imports and exports are processed electronically through the SAT's DUCA (Central American Single Declaration): DUCA-D for third countries, DUCA-F for Central American origin. The FYDUCA applies within the customs union with Honduras and El Salvador.

Which free trade agreements does Guatemala have?

Guatemala is part of CAFTA-DR (USA, since 2006) and the Central American Common Market. Further agreements exist with the EU, EFTA (incl. Switzerland), Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Taiwan.

Which ports handle foreign trade?

About 96 percent of foreign trade runs through Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific and Santo Tomas de Castilla and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean. In 2025 around 1.12 million containers were handled (up 11 percent).

Which proof of origin is needed for exports to the EU?

Under the EU-Central America Association Agreement, the EUR.1 movement certificate or a registered exporter (REX) declaration applies. For CAFTA-DR and EFTA an origin declaration is sufficient.

Which seasonal risks affect logistics?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November and can affect the Caribbean coast. The May-October rainy season brings landslides, and there are earthquake and volcanic risks (Fuego volcano).

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗