Guinea-Bissau: sanctions and trade risk

Sanctions programmeUN, EU, Swiss and UK targeted sanctions (travel bans, asset freezes).

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Guinea-Bissau.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

A sanctions programme concerning Guinea-Bissau 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 — Guinea-Bissau (23 Sept 2025) · UN Security Council — Sanctions (15 active regimes) (24 Oct 2026) · SECO — Sanktionsverordnungen (index of 28 Swiss regimes) (24 Oct 2026) · reviewed 24 Oct 2026

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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	Sanctions programme	Travel bans on listed persons — implemented by UN member states in their own law.
EU	Sanctions programme	Implements the UN measures.
Switzerland	Sanctions programme	Implements the UN measures.
UK	Sanctions programme	Implements the UN measures.
US	Sanctions programme	Implements the UN measures.

On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Guinea-Bissau.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Guinea-Bissau recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Guinea-Bissau: logistics and trade

Cashew exporter / Atlantic port country in West Africa

Guinea-Bissau (ISO code: GW) lies in West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean, bordering Senegal and Guinea. It is a presidential republic with fragile institutions and recurring governance and security challenges. The climate is tropical, with humid coastal zones, inland savannah and pronounced rainy and dry seasons. Agriculture is central to the economy, especially cashew nuts, fisheries and subsistence farming, while industry and services remain limited. Foreign trade is heavily focused on cashew nut and fish exports, while the country depends strongly on imports of food, fuel and manufactured goods. The Port of Bissau anchors the country's transit and logistics function despite infrastructure constraints. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro. Guinea-Bissau is a member of ECOWAS and UEMOA, and as a least developed country enjoys duty-free access to the EU market.

Capital: Bissau
Population: 2,201,352
Area: 36,125 km²
Currency: CFA franc (BCEAO) (XOF)
Continent: Africa
Region: West Africa
Economic area: ECOWAS / UEMOA
Religions: Islam, Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road

Current situation: Customs modernization: ASYCUDAWorld in operation nationwide since January 2026. Airport OXB is being expanded (new cargo terminal of around 1'000 tonnes per year). Port of Bissau with draft limit.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical rainy season June to October with heavy rain and difficult road transport; dry season November to May. The cashew harvest from about April to June shapes export peaks.

Main seaports

Bissau
Bissau (GW OXB): Guinea-Bissau's main river seaport on the Geba — cashew exports, general cargo, containers. Shallow draught, seasonal congestion; Dakar as fallback.
Rio Cacheu
Rio Cacheu (GW CAC), Guinea-Bissau: small river port for cashew and general cargo, shallow draught, limited freight relevance. Containers via Bissau.

Main cargo airports

Osvaldo Vieira International AirportOXB
Osvaldo Vieira (OXB), Guinea-Bissau's only international airport: marginal air cargo, mainly frozen fish. Real freight routes via Port of Bissau, Dakar and Lisbon.

Road corridors

Bissau–São Domingos–Ziguinchor (Senegal)
Bissau–Gabú–Conakry (Guinea)
Bissau–Bafatá–eastern Senegal border

Main trade lanes

Bissau–Lisbon/Europe
Bissau–Dakar (Senegal)
Cashew: Bissau–India/Vietnam

Customs and import

Customs authority Direção-Geral das Alfândegas (DGA), Ministry of Economy and FinanceOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: ASYCUDAWorld of the DGA, nationwide in operation since 26.1.2026 (replacing ASYCUDA++); connected, among others, to the port of Bissau, OXB airport and São Domingos, Gabú and Bafatá.
Export customs system: Export processing is also handled via the DGA's ASYCUDAWorld; in practice, a licensed customs agent (despachante) is required.
Import VAT: VAT since 1.1.2025: standard rate 19 percent, reduced rate 10 percent (including basic foodstuffs and medicines); exports are tax-exempt. Import VAT is levied at import (DGCI/DGA).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: In regional trade, ECOWAS/UEMOA certificate of origin; for the EU market, as a least developed country, duty-free and quota-free access (Everything But Arms) with REX proof of origin.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Restricted/prohibited, among others: weapons, ammunition, narcotics, protected tropical wood (rosewood/Pterocarpus) and CITES species; export of unprocessed cashew is partly regulated.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Waybill/Bill of lading (B/L)
Import customs declaration (ASYCUDAWorld)
Certificate of origin

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading (B/L)
Export customs declaration
ECOWAS/REX proof of origin
Phytosanitary certificate (cashew/fish)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Senegal Portugal China Netherlands France

Top export partners

India Viet Nam Portugal China Spain

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Food
Machinery
Vehicles
Construction materials

Top export goods

Cashew nuts
Fish
Groundnuts
Timber

Typical cargo

Cashew nuts
Fish and seafood
Petroleum products
Rice and foodstuffs
Construction materials

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Guinea-Bissau?

Since 1 January 2025 a value added tax (IVA) applies, with a standard rate of 19 percent and a reduced rate of 10 percent (including basic foods and medicines). It is levied on imports too; exports are exempt.

Which system handles customs clearance?

The Directorate-General of Customs (DGA) has processed imports and exports via ASYCUDAWorld since 26 January 2026 (replacing ASYCUDA++), connected to the Port of Bissau and OXB airport among others.

Which ports and airports are relevant?

The main seaport is Porto de Bissau (Pidjiguiti) on the Geba River, with limited draught. International air cargo runs through Osvaldo Vieira Airport (OXB) near Bissau.

Which currency is used?

Guinea-Bissau uses the West African CFA franc (XOF) issued by the BCEAO, fixed to the euro (1 euro = 655.957 XOF). The country is a member of UEMOA.

What does Guinea-Bissau mainly export?

The main export goods are cashew nuts (by far the largest item), fish and seafood, plus timber and groundnuts. Imports are mainly fuel, food and manufactured goods.

What free-trade advantages does the country offer?

Regional trade follows ECOWAS and UEMOA rules of origin. As a least developed country, Guinea-Bissau has duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms scheme with REX proof of origin.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗