Mozambique: 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 Mozambique.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

Check a shipment to Mozambique →

On the sanctions lists

4 entries on the official lists name Mozambique — 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)	4	4	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Mozambique recorded yet.

All updates →

Logistics profile

Mozambique: logistics and trade

Transit gateway for southern Africa / raw materials and LNG exporter

Mozambique (MZ) lies in south-eastern Africa on the Indian Ocean coast and borders Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini. Politically it is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. The climate is tropical along the coast and partly subtropical inland, with a pronounced rainy season from November to April. Economically Mozambique is rich in natural resources, especially gas, coal, aluminium and agricultural products, while the industrial sector is still developing. Its logistical importance stems above all from the ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala, which serve as central gateways for regional and international trade. Foreign trade is dominated by exports of gas, coal and aluminium, while food, machinery and consumer goods are imported, creating a high dependence on imports. Mozambique plays an important transit role for the landlocked trade of its neighbours, especially Zambia and Zimbabwe. The national currency is the Metical (MZN). Infrastructure projects such as rail links and port modernisation strengthen Mozambique's role as a logistics hub in southern Africa. Tourism and fisheries complement the country's economic diversification.

Capital: Maputo
Population: 33,200,000
Area: 801,590 km²
Currency: Mozambican Metical (MZN)
Continent: Africa
Region: Southern Africa
Economic area: SADC / AfCFTA / EU-SADC-EPA
Religions: Christianity, Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road · Rail · Pipeline

Current situation: TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG in Cabo Delgado resumed work in 2025 after progress on security and financing; expansion of the ports of Nacala and Maputo (30,9 Mt 2024) is underway.
Seasonal conditions: Rainy season November to April with cyclone season in the Indian Ocean; flooding and storm damage (e.g. Cyclone Idai 2019) can temporarily interrupt ports, roads and rail.

Main seaports

Maputo
Maputo (MZ MPM) on the Indian Ocean: record 32M tonnes in 2025, coal, chrome and magnetite via the Matola terminal, rail hinterland to Gauteng and Eswatini.
Beira
Beira (MZ BEW): Mozambique's 2nd port and gateway for Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi. ~412,000 TEU (2024), coal terminal, corridor rail; alternatives Nacala, Durban.
Nacala
Nacala (MZ MNC): deepest natural harbour in Southern Africa, 100,000 TEU container terminal, coal exports and rail corridor to Malawi and Zambia.
Pemba
Pemba (MZ POL): deep natural harbour in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, handling graphite exports and Rovuma gas project cargo; containers route via Nacala or Beira.

Main cargo airports

Maputo AirportMPM
Maputo (MPM/FQMA): 24-hour operation, new Menzies cargo facility since September 2024 with cold chain, freighter link from Guangzhou, port and N4 corridor next door.
Beira AirportBEW
Beira Airport (BEW): cargo terminal being rebuilt for end-2026; bulk freight moves via the port and the Machipanda and Sena railways, air for urgent loads.
Nacala AirportMNC
Nacala Airport (MNC) is a vital logistics hub in Mozambique, providing efficient air freight solutions for local and international markets.
Pemba AirportPOL
Pemba Airport (POL), logistics base for the TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado. Helicopters, charter freight, Port of Pemba, Quirimbas tourism.

Road corridors

Maputo Corridor (N4 to South Africa/Gauteng)
Beira Corridor (to Zimbabwe/Zambia/Malawi)
Nacala Corridor (to Malawi/Zambia)

Rail corridors

Sena Line (Moatize-Beira, coal)
Nacala Logistics Corridor (Moatize-Nacala via Malawi)
Ressano Garcia Line (Maputo-South Africa)
Limpopo Line (Maputo-Zimbabwe)
Goba Line (Maputo-Eswatini)

Main trade lanes

South Africa
China
India
EU
UAE

Customs and import

Customs authority Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT) - Direcção Geral das AlfândegasOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Janela Única Electrónica (JUE) via MCNet: TradeNet plus Mozambique Customs Management System (MCMS); customs declaration by Documento Único (DU).
Export customs system: Exports are also handled via the JUE (TradeNet/MCMS) with the Documento Único (DU); the responsible authority is the Direcção Geral das Alfândegas of the AT.
Import VAT: Standard IVA rate of 16 percent on the customs value (CIF plus duty); in effect since 1.1.2023, maintained for 2026. Additionally ICE on certain goods. Exports 0 percent.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: SADC certificate of origin within the SADC free trade area; EUR.1 or origin declaration under the EU-SADC EPA; AfCFTA proof. No FTA with Switzerland/EFTA – Swiss exports at the most-favoured-nation duty.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import licences and advance controls, among others for food, pharmaceuticals, live animals, weapons and chemicals; prohibitions and restrictions under the Pauta Aduaneira and JUE regulations.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
Documento Único (DU)
Certificate of origin
Import licence (if required)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Documento Único (DU)
Bill of lading or air waybill
Proof of origin (EUR.1 or SADC)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

South Africa China United Arab Emirates India Portugal

Top export partners

South Africa India China Netherlands Italy

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Food
Chemicals

Top export goods

Aluminium
Coal
Natural gas
Electricity
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Coal
Aluminium
Natural gas/LNG
Agricultural products (cashew, sugar, tobacco)
Containers
Project and heavy cargo

Latest logistics news

Smart Corridors Instead of Paperwork: Five Countries Connect Their Customs Data10 Sept 2026
Five countries in southern Africa are planning direct customs data exchange. Freight data is to be available at the border before truck arrival.

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT in Mozambique?

The standard IVA rate is 16 percent on the customs value (CIF plus duty), in effect since 1.1.2023 and maintained for 2026. Exports are exempt from tax at 0 percent; a consumption tax (ICE) is additionally levied on certain goods.

What are the import duties in Mozambique?

The customs rates of the Pauta Aduaneira range from 0 to 20 percent depending on the tariff position. Raw materials are taxed at low rates, while finished consumer goods are usually taxed at around 20 percent. The legal basis is Law 17/2022, amended by Law 08/2025.

Which customs system does Mozambique use?

Customs processing runs through the Janela Única Electrónica (JUE), operated by MCNet with the TradeNet and Mozambique Customs Management System (MCMS) platforms. Declarations are submitted via the Documento Único (DU).

Do Swiss exporters benefit from tariff preferences?

No. There is no free trade agreement between Mozambique and Switzerland or EFTA; Swiss goods are cleared at the most-favoured-nation duty. Preferences apply mainly within the SADC area and under the EU-SADC EPA.

Which ports are important for trade with Mozambique?

The three most important seaports are Maputo in the south, Beira in the centre and Nacala in the north. They are connected by road and rail corridors to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.

What risks exist in logistics?

In the north (Cabo Delgado province), an armed conflict has existed since 2017, which burdens LNG projects and supply chains. In addition, there are cyclone and flood risks during the rainy season, as well as capacity bottlenecks at ports and rail lines.

Which documents are required for imports?

Common documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, the Documento Único (DU) and a certificate of origin. Depending on the goods, an import licence is also required.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗