Marshall Islands: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 169 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Marshall Islands.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

169 entries on the official lists name Marshall Islands — 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)	163	163	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	3	3	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	1	1	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Marshall Islands recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Marshall Islands: logistics and trade

Micronesian island nation in free association with the USA; import-dependent island supply, fish exporter and one of the world's large open ship registry flags (IRI)

The Marshall Islands (ISO code: MH) lie in the central Pacific northeast of Australia and consist of 29 atolls and 5 individual islands. Politically, they are an independent republic in free association with the United States, which guarantees security and defence. The climate is tropical-maritime, marked by high temperatures, high humidity and a pronounced rainy season. Economically, the country depends heavily on fisheries, financial services and international aid payments. In foreign trade, the Marshall Islands play a role mainly through fish exports and shipping services. The island state depends on imports for food, fuel, machinery and consumer goods, as local production is limited. The strategic location in the Pacific makes the country a small but relevant transit point for maritime routes. The national currency is the US dollar (USD), which enables stable trade and financial relations. Due to its geographic isolation, the logistics infrastructure is strongly oriented towards port and air transport. International partnerships and agreements are of central importance for securing supply and trade.

Capital: Majuro
Population: 42,418
Area: 181 km²
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Pacific / Micronesia
Economic area: COFA (US association) / Pacific Islands Forum
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Compact of Free Association renewed in 2024 (until 2043), USD remains the currency. RMI operates one of the world's largest open ship registries (IRI, top 3 by tonnage). Main transshipment via Delap Dock in Majuro.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical maritime climate with a rainy season from about May to December; location on the edge of typhoon zones and occasional King Tides cause flooding of low-lying atolls and supply interruptions.

Main seaports

Majuro Atoll
Majuro (MH MAJ), Marshall Islands: world's busiest tuna transshipment lagoon and the country's main port for feeder-container and fuel imports.

Main cargo airports

Marshall Islands International AirportMAJ
Majuro (MAJ), Amata Kabua International, is the Marshall Islands' main airport: Asia Pacific Airlines 757F freighters export tuna; United Island Hopper adds belly cargo.
Bucholz Army Air FieldKWA
Bucholz Army Air Field (KWA/PKWA), Kwajalein: US military airfield with supply cargo and restricted access. Civil air freight via Majuro MAJ or Guam GUM.

Main trade lanes

USA-Majuro
China-Majuro
Japan-Majuro
South Korea-Majuro
Australia-Majuro

Customs and import

Customs authority Division of Customs, Treasury, Revenue and Taxation (Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Import clearance by the Customs Division of the Ministry of Finance in Majuro under the Import Duties Act 1989; HS tariff classification, customs value on CIF basis, declaration with invoice, packing list and Bill of Lading / Air Waybill.
Export customs system: Export via the Customs Division in Majuro; main exports are fish and copra. Accompanying documents: invoice, packing list and Bill of Lading / Air Waybill; goods in pure transit are not subject to import duty.
Import VAT: No VAT/GST. Import duty under the Import Duties Act 1989: uniform 8 percent, food 5 percent, vehicles 15 percent; fuel, tobacco and alcohol with specific quantity rates.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: No free trade agreement with the EU or Switzerland. Under the Compact of Free Association, partly duty-free market access to the USA; proofs of origin depending on the country of destination.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited: narcotics/drugs. Subject to permit: firearms (import licence). Animals, plants and food are subject to quarantine under the Animal and Plant Inspection Act 1966.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Import customs declaration
Quarantine/import permit for animals and plants

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Export declaration
Proof of origin (if required)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States China Japan South Korea Australia

Top export partners

United States Japan South Korea China Thailand

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Consumer goods
Vehicles

Top export goods

Fish
Copra

Typical cargo

Food
Petroleum products/fuel
Construction materials
Consumer goods
Vehicles
Fish/copra (export)

Logistics questions

Is there a value added tax on imports in the Marshall Islands?

No. The Marshall Islands levy neither VAT nor GST. At the border, an import duty applies under the Import Duties Act 1989: uniform 8 percent, 5 percent on food and 15 percent on vehicles.

Who handles customs clearance?

Responsible is the Customs Division (Division of Customs, Treasury, Revenue and Taxation) of the Ministry of Finance, based in Majuro. Customs values are determined on a CIF basis and according to the HS tariff.

How are fuel, tobacco and alcohol taxed?

Specific quantity rates apply to these goods instead of a percentage rate, for example fixed amounts per gallon of fuel, per pack of cigarettes and per gallon of spirits (Import Duties Act 1989).

Which goods are prohibited or subject to permit?

Narcotics are prohibited. Firearms require an import licence. Animals, plants and certain foods are subject to quarantine under the Animal and Plant Inspection Act 1966.

Which ports and airports are relevant for freight?

The main seaport is Delap Dock in Majuro (handling by MSTCO), in addition to the port of Ebeye on Kwajalein. The main air cargo airport is Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ) in Majuro.

What currency applies and is there a free trade agreement?

The legal tender is the US dollar. There is no free trade agreement with the EU or Switzerland; under the Compact of Free Association, certain goods have duty-free access to the USA.

Why is the Marshall Islands so important in shipping?

The country operates one of the world's largest open ship registry flags, administered by International Registries, Inc. (IRI). By tonnage, the registry is among the three largest in the world.

What seasonal risks exist for the supply chain?

The rainy season lasts from about May to December. The low-lying atolls are at risk of flooding from King Tides and sea-level rise, which can disrupt inter-atoll transport.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗