Countries · LV

Latvia: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 9 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Latvia.Lists last checked .

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

9 entries on the official lists name Latvia — 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.

ListEntries
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)9

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Latvia recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Latvia: logistics and trade

Baltic transit and port hub at the EU external border with Russia and Belarus

Latvia (LV) is a Baltic EU and eurozone state on the Baltic Sea, acting as a transit and port hub on the EU external border with Russia and Belarus. As an EU member, Latvia is part of the customs union and single market; customs clearance runs electronically through the VID tax authority's EMDAS system (AIS for imports, AES for exports), and import VAT is 21 percent (reduced rates 12 and 5 percent). The main gateways are the free ports of Riga — the largest port in the Baltics — and Ventspils, the port of Liepaja in the special economic zone, and Riga International Airport (RIX) with the Baltic Cargo Hub. Key corridors are the Via Baltica (E67) Tallinn–Riga–Warsaw, the A6 towards Daugavpils and the broad-gauge network (1520 mm) eastward; the standard-gauge Rail Baltica line is under construction. Main exports are timber, food and machinery; imports include machinery, vehicles and chemicals. Key trading partners are Lithuania, Estonia, Germany and Sweden.

Capital
Riga
Population
1,857,000
Area
64,559 km²
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Continent
Europe
Region
Baltic region
Economic area
EU / Eurozone / Schengen
Religions
Lutheranism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Baptist movement
Access to the sea
Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Rail · Air

Current situation
Russia closed the rail border crossings with Latvia (Pytalovo/Karsava) on 1.7.2026; eastbound rail transit practically halted; LDz Cargo is reducing staff. Ports and RIX air cargo operating normally. (As of 2026-07-24)
Seasonal conditions
Cold winters; Baltic ports occasionally need icebreaker support; otherwise operational all year round.

Main seaports

  • Riga

    Riga (LV RIX): Latvia's largest port, 16.7 Mt in 2025. Containers ~495,700 TEU (BCT), nine liner services; coal transit declining. Alternatives: Klaipėda, Tallinn.

  • Ventspils

    Ventspils (LV VNT): ice-free Latvian freeport, 8.53M t in 2025. Oil products, coal, Ro-Ro, fertilisers; containers better via Riga or Klaipėda.

  • Liepaja

    Liepaja (LV LPX): 6.9 Mt in 2025, grain and dry bulk, daily RoRo ferry to Travemünde, terminals run by Stena Line since 2026. Containers via Riga.

Road corridors

  • Via Baltica (E67) Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas-Warsaw
  • A6 Riga-Daugavpils-Belarus border

Rail corridors

  • Rail Baltica (standard gauge 1435 mm, under construction)
  • Broad-gauge east-west corridor (1520 mm)

Main trade lanes

  • Lithuania-Latvia
  • Germany-Latvia
  • Estonia-Latvia
  • Scandinavia-Latvia (Baltic Sea)
  • Poland-Latvia

Customs and import

Customs authority Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (VID) - Customs Administration (Muitas pārvalde)Official website ↗

Import customs system
EU Customs Code (UCC); national system EMDAS with Automated Import System (AIS); summary entry declaration via ICS2.
Export customs system
EMDAS with Automated Export System (AES) for export and re-export; integrated into the EU export system AES.
Import VAT
Import VAT (PVN) 21 percent standard rate; reduced 12 and 5 percent; temporarily 12 percent on basic foods (pilot 7/2026–6/2027); collected by VID.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements
As an EU member, access to all EU free trade agreements; proofs of origin EUR.1, origin declaration and REX system; supplier declarations.
Restricted and prohibited goods
EU-wide bans and restrictions; licence requirement for weapons and dual-use goods.

Typical import documents

  • Commercial invoice
  • Waybill (CMR / Bill of Lading / Air Waybill)
  • Packing list
  • Customs declaration (AIS / EMDAS)
  • Proof of origin (for preference)
  • Import licence (for restricted goods)

Typical export documents

  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list
  • Export declaration (AES / EMDAS)
  • EUR.1 / Declaration of origin

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import goods

  • Machinery
  • Vehicles
  • Chemicals
  • Electronics
  • Crude oil

Top export goods

  • Wood
  • Food
  • Machinery
  • Chemicals
  • Metals

Typical cargo

  • Timber and wood products
  • Containers
  • Mineral fertilisers
  • Metals
  • Grain
  • Petroleum products

Upcoming public holidays

  • Proclamation Day of the Republic of LatviaWed, 18 Nov 2026 · businesses closed
  • Christmas EveThu, 24 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
  • Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
  • Second Day of ChristmasSat, 26 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
  • New Year's EveThu, 31 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
  • New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
  • Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
  • Easter SundaySun, 28 Mar 2027 · businesses closed

Latest logistics news

Logistics questions

Which customs system does Latvia use?

Latvia applies the EU Customs Code (UCC). The customs board of the VID tax authority runs the electronic EMDAS system: imports are declared through the Automated Import System (AIS), exports through the Automated Export System (AES), and entry summary data via ICS2.

What is the import VAT rate in Latvia?

The standard VAT (PVN) rate is 21 percent. Reduced rates of 12 and 5 percent apply to certain goods. Import VAT is collected by the VID tax authority; intra-EU supplies and exports are zero-rated.

Which ports and airports handle the cargo?

The main seaports are the free ports of Riga (the largest port in the Baltics) and Ventspils, plus the port of Liepaja in the special economic zone. The main air freight hub is Riga International Airport (RIX) with the Baltic Cargo Hub.

Does Latvia benefit from the EU single market for trade?

Yes. As an EU and eurozone member, Latvia is part of the customs union and single market: goods move duty-free with other EU states. For third countries the EU common external tariff applies, along with EU free trade agreements using proofs of origin such as EUR.1 or REX.

Which transport routes connect Latvia with Europe?

By road, the Via Baltica (E67) is the main corridor from Tallinn through Riga to Poland. In rail, a broad-gauge network (1520 mm) runs eastward; the EU project Rail Baltica is building a continuous standard-gauge link (1435 mm) to Central Europe.

What seasonal risks affect supply chains?

Winters are cold; the Baltic Sea ports may temporarily need icebreaker support but generally remain operable year-round. Major weather-related closures are rare.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗

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Indicator: the route rules of the Sanctioni check, curated from the published sanctions programmes of the UN, EU, UK, Switzerland and the US. Entries: the live version of each list (data sources), updated every 6 hours.

A preliminary screening aid — not legal advice and not a compliance clearance. The official publication of the competent authority prevails.

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