Macao: sanctions and trade risk

Re-export routeNamed in UK and US guidance (with China and Hong Kong) as a re-export route to Russia.

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 1 company, organisation, vessel or aircraft linked to Macao.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

Macao is named in official guidance as a route for re-exports to Russia. Ordinary goods are usually not restricted, but authorities expect you to verify the real end destination and end user, especially for goods on the EU/UK high-priority lists.

Sources: UK — Countering Russian sanctions evasion: guidance for exporters (at-risk jurisdictions list) (12 Mar 2026) · DOJ/Commerce/Treasury Tri-Seal Compliance Note on third-party intermediaries (2 Mar 2023) · 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	—	No UN sanctions regime.
EU	—	No measures against the country itself.
Switzerland	—	No measures against the country itself.
UK	Re-export route	'China, including Hong Kong and Macau' named as at risk of re-export to Russia (Mar 2026).
US	Re-export route	Named in US guidance (Tri-Seal note 2023) as a transshipment point to Russia.

On the sanctions lists

1 entries on the official lists name Macao — 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)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Macao recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Macao: logistics and trade

Free port and gaming and tourism hub in the Pearl River Delta

Macao is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China at the mouth of the Pearl River, bordering Guangdong. Under the "one country, two systems" principle it has its own government, legal and customs system. The economy is driven by tourism, gaming, financial services and trade, while industry and agriculture play a minor role. As a free port and separate customs territory, Macao levies no general import duties and no VAT; only tobacco and spirits are subject to a consumption tax, and imported vehicles to a motor vehicle tax. Logistics rely on Macau International Airport (MFM), the Ka-Ho container terminal and the neighbouring ports of the Greater Bay Area such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. The currency is the Macanese pataca (MOP), pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also widely accepted.

Capital: none
Population: 688,900
Area: 33 km²
Currency: Macao pataca (MOP)
Continent: Asia
Region: Greater Bay Area / Pearl River Delta
Economic area: PR China (SVR) / free port / separate customs territory
Religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Air · Sea · Road

Current situation: Macau relies on integration into the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Hengqin, as well as on growing cross-border e-commerce air freight from Macau International Airport (MFM).
Seasonal conditions: Subtropical climate; the typhoon season from May to November can briefly interrupt air and sea traffic. Rainy season from May to September.

Road corridors

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB)
Portas do Cerco border (Zhuhai)
Lotus Bridge / Hengqin

Main trade lanes

Mainland China
Hong Kong
Greater Bay Area
Southeast Asia

Customs and import

Customs authority Serviços de Alfândega de Macau (Macao Customs Service)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Free port with no general import duties. Customs declaration with the Macao Customs Service is required from a goods value of 5'000 MOP, electronically via the DSEDT platform. Legal basis: Foreign Trade Act (Law 7/2003, rev. 3/2016).
Export customs system: Exports and transit are subject to the Foreign Trade Act, with licence or declaration requirements. Goods subject to licensing are listed in export table A; declaration from a goods value of 5'000 MOP via the DSEDT platform.
Import VAT: No VAT, GST or general sales tax. Excise duty only on tobacco and spirits; motor vehicle tax of 24 to 72 percent on imported vehicles.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: CEPA with mainland China (since 2004): duty-free market access for goods of Macao origin. Origin is proven with the CEPA certificate of origin issued by the DSEDT.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Licence required for, among others, tobacco, spirits, fuels, medicines, ozone-depleting substances, protected species (CITES), narcotics and rough diamonds (Kimberley).

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

China Hong Kong Japan Singapore South Korea

Top export partners

China Hong Kong United States Japan Viet Nam

Top import goods

Food
Consumer goods
Electronics
Fuels

Top export goods

Textiles
Re-exports
Services

Typical cargo

Consumer goods
Food
Electronics
E-commerce shipments
Fuels

Logistics questions

Are there import duties in Macau?

Macau is a free port and does not levy general import duties. Exceptions are an excise duty on tobacco and spirits and a motor vehicle tax of 24 to 72 percent on imported vehicles.

Does Macau have VAT?

No. Macau has no VAT, no GST and no general sales tax. It applies a simple, territorial tax system with low rates.

From which goods value is a customs declaration required?

A declaration with the Macao Customs Service is required for imports and exports with a goods value above 5'000 MOP. It is made electronically via the DSEDT platform.

Which authority is responsible for customs?

The competent authority is the Macao Customs Service (Serviços de Alfândega de Macau). The legal basis for foreign trade is the Foreign Trade Act (Law 7/2003, revised by Law 3/2016).

What advantages does the CEPA agreement offer?

Under the CEPA with mainland China, goods of Macau origin receive duty-free market access to mainland China. Origin is proven with a CEPA certificate of origin issued by the DSEDT.

Which transport routes are important for freight logistics?

Air freight runs via Macau International Airport (MFM), sea freight via the Ka-Ho container terminal. Because there is no deep-sea port, many shipments are handled via Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

Which currency is used in Macau?

The legal tender is the Macau pataca (MOP), which is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar. The Hong Kong dollar is also widely accepted in daily life.

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