Mauritania: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 4 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Mauritania.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

4 entries on the official lists name Mauritania — 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
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	1	1	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	1	1	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Mauritania recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Mauritania: logistics and trade

Commodity exporter (iron ore, fish, gold) with Atlantic seaport access in West Africa

Mauritania (ISO code: MR) lies in West Africa on the Atlantic coast and borders Senegal, Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara. Politically it is an Islamic Republic with a presidential system, regarded as relatively stable. The climate is mainly desert, with high temperatures, low rainfall and frequent Sahara sandstorms, while the south has more subtropical features. Economically, iron ore and gold mining dominate, complemented by fishing, livestock and increasingly renewable energy and offshore gas. Its logistical importance derives mainly from the seaports of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, which serve as access points for trans-Saharan trade. In foreign trade Mauritania is strongly export-oriented in commodities such as ore and fish, while imports cover food, fuel, machinery and consumer goods. Overland transit is limited by the desert but is gaining importance through planned rail projects. The currency is the ouguiya (MRU).

Capital: Nouakchott
Population: 4,927,532
Area: 1,030,700 km²
Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
Continent: Africa
Region: West Africa
Economic area: Arab Maghreb Union (UMA); ECOWAS association
Religions: Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Air

Current situation: The port of Nouakchott (PANPA / Port de l'Amitié) handles around 96 percent of foreign trade. Growing importance due to the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project with Senegal since 2025.
Seasonal conditions: Desert climate with sandstorms (Harmattan); short rainy season in the south from July to September. No Atlantic hurricanes. Heat affects temperature-sensitive cargo.

Main seaports

Nouakchott
Nouakchott Port de l'Amitié (MR NKC) handles ~96% of Mauritania's seaborne trade: containers, general cargo, dry bulk. Alternatives: Nouadhibou, Dakar.
Nouadhibou
Nouadhibou (MR NDB): Mauritania's iron-ore and fishing port, ~11 Mt ore/year via Point Central. Channel deepened in 2024. Containers via Nouakchott.

Main cargo airports

Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International AirportNKC
Nouakchott–Oumtounsy (NKC/GQNO): Mauritania's main airport with its own cargo terminal; air freight is mostly belly cargo. Alternatives: NDB and Dakar DSS.

Road corridors

Route de l'Espoir (Nouakchott - Néma)
Nouakchott - Nouadhibou (N2)
Rosso - Nouakchott (Senegal border)

Rail corridors

Ore railway Zouérate - Nouadhibou (SNIM, approx. 700 km)

Main trade lanes

China - Mauritania
Europe - Mauritania
Mauritania - China (iron ore)
Mauritania - EU (fish)

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD), Ministry of FinanceOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic customs processing via SYDONIA World (ASYCUDA) of the Direction Générale des Douanes; declarations submitted by authorized declarants. Around 27 customs offices, special offices for mining, fisheries and the Nouadhibou free zone.
Export customs system: Export declarations also via SYDONIA World of the DGD. Exports of goods and services are exempt from VAT (TVA) (0 percent rate).
Import VAT: Standard VAT (TVA) rate of 16 percent on imports (General Tax Code); additionally a statistical import fee of 1 percent. Import duties between 0 and 22 percent depending on the goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: No free trade agreement with EFTA/Switzerland or the EU is in force. Proofs of origin are usually certificates of origin issued by the chamber of commerce; preferences under the UMA and the ECOWAS association are implemented only to a limited extent.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import bans/restrictions include alcohol (Islamic law), weapons, drugs, and certain animal and plant products, among others. High excise duties on alcohol, tobacco and sugar.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading (B/L or AWB)
SYDONIA customs declaration
Certificate of origin

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading
SYDONIA export declaration
Certificate of origin

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

China France Belgium Spain United Arab Emirates

Top export partners

China Spain Japan Italy Germany

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Construction materials

Top export goods

Iron ore
Fish
Gold
Copper
Crude oil

Typical cargo

Iron ore
Fish
Gold
Foodstuffs
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles

Logistics questions

What VAT applies in Mauritania?

The standard VAT rate is 16 percent on imports and local supplies; exports are zero-rated. A 1 percent statistical import fee also applies.

Which customs system does Mauritania use?

The Direction Générale des Douanes clears imports and exports electronically via SYDONIA World (ASYCUDA); declarations are filed by licensed brokers.

Which ports handle trade?

The main hub is the Port de l'Amitié (PANPA) in Nouakchott, handling about 96 percent of foreign trade; the second port is Nouadhibou with a free zone.

Is Mauritania an ECOWAS member?

Mauritania left ECOWAS in 2000 but signed an association agreement in 2017. It is a member of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).

What currency is used?

The national currency is the ouguiya (MRU); one ouguiya is divided into 10 khoums.

What does Mauritania export?

Mainly iron ore, fish, gold and copper; increasingly natural gas through the GTA (Grand Tortue Ahmeyim) project shared with Senegal.

Is there a free trade agreement with the EU or Switzerland?

There is no FTA with EFTA/Switzerland and no comprehensive bilateral FTA with the EU in force. Preferences are only limited, via the UMA and the ECOWAS association.

When should weather risks be expected?

Sandstorms are possible year-round; the south has a short rainy season from July to September. Atlantic hurricanes do not occur.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗