New Caledonia: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to New Caledonia.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

Check a shipment to New Caledonia →

On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names New Caledonia.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming New Caledonia recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

New Caledonia: logistics and trade

Pacific island / nickel export hub

New Caledonia lies in the south-western Pacific, east of Australia and north of New Zealand, and consists of the main island of Grande Terre plus several smaller islands. Politically it is a French overseas territory with substantial autonomy and its own territorial administration. The climate is tropical, with a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. Economically, nickel mining plays a central role, complemented by agriculture, fishing and tourism. In external trade New Caledonia exports mainly nickel and metal products, while machinery, consumer goods, fuel and food are imported. Its logistical importance stems from the Port of Nouméa as a regional transhipment hub in the Pacific, with the international airport at La Tontouta handling air freight. The local currency is the CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro.

Capital: Nouméa
Population: 264,596
Area: 18,576 km²
Currency: CFP Franc (XPF)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Pacific / France Overseas
Economic area: PTOM (EU-OCT) / Pacific Franc Zone
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Nickel industry in crisis mode since May 2024: KNS in cold shutdown, Prony temporarily stopped, SLN/Doniambo at minimum load; supply via Nouméa and La Tontouta with additional costs.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical cyclone season November to April with risks for sea and air freight; the rainy season can affect roads and port operations.

Main seaports

Noumea
Port of Noumea (NC NOU): New Caledonia's maritime gateway for containers, nickel ore and bulk. ~97% of imports; feeder links to Brisbane and Auckland.
Baie De Kouaoua
Kouaoua (NC KOU) on New Caledonia's east coast is an SLN nickel-ore export port with the 11 km Serpentine conveyor. Containers route via Nouméa.

Main cargo airports

La Tontouta International AirportNOU
La Tontouta (NOU) is New Caledonia's only international airport: Aircalin base and air-cargo gateway for shrimp, seafood and mail; nickel ships by sea.
Nouméa Magenta AirportGEA
Nouméa Magenta (GEA): former city airport; since March 2026 Air Calédonie moved all operations to La Tontouta. No air cargo, now general aviation.

Road corridors

RT1 Nouméa-Koné-North
Nouméa-La Tontouta

Main trade lanes

New Caledonia-China
New Caledonia-Japan
New Caledonia-South Korea
New Caledonia-France
New Caledonia-Australia

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction des Douanes de Nouvelle-CalédonieOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Separate customs territory (foreign trade transferred to New Caledonia); electronic clearance via SYDONIA++ with SAU self-service terminals; customs valuation based on CIF.
Export customs system: Export clearance via the Direction des Douanes de Nouvelle-Calédonie (SYDONIA++); main nickel export via Nouméa; as an EU-OCT (PTOM), duty- and quota-free access to the EU market.
Import VAT: TGC (Taxe Générale sur la Consommation) since 1.10.2018; import rates 0/3/11/22 percent, standard rate 11 percent; reform to a single rate of around 8 percent in preparation.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: As an EU-OCT (PTOM), duty- and quota-free access to the EU market with OCT origin proof (EUR.1 / origin declaration); national import duties ad valorem 0/5/10/15/20 percent.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import restrictions apply, among others, to weapons, certain agricultural and biosecurity goods, and protected species; specific permits via the Direction des Douanes de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading / waybill
Packing list
Customs declaration (SYDONIA)
if applicable: certificate of origin

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading / AWB
Packing list
Export declaration
if applicable: EUR.1 / origin declaration

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

France Australia China New Zealand Japan

Top export partners

China Japan France South Korea Australia

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Foodstuffs
Construction materials

Top export goods

Nickel
Ferronickel
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Nickel ore
Ferronickel
Nickel matte
Petroleum products
Consumer goods
Foodstuffs
Construction materials

Logistics questions

Does New Caledonia belong to the EU customs territory?

No. New Caledonia is associated with the EU as an overseas country and territory (PTOM/OCT) but is not part of the EU customs territory. It has a separate customs territory, but enjoys duty- and quota-free access to the EU market.

Which import tax applies in New Caledonia?

Instead of a value-added tax, the TGC (Taxe Générale sur la Consommation) has applied since 1.10.2018. Import rates of 0, 3, 11 or 22 percent apply; the standard rate is 11 percent. A reform to a single rate of around 8 percent is in preparation.

What are the import duty rates?

New Caledonia's national import duties are graduated ad valorem: 0 percent for basic necessities, and 5, 10, 15 and up to 20 percent for higher-value or luxury goods. The assessment base is the CIF value.

Through which ports and airports does freight move?

Sea freight runs via the Port autonome de Nouvelle-Calédonie in Nouméa, with nickel additionally via the Doniambo terminal. Air freight is handled through the international airport Nouméa-La Tontouta (NOU); Nouméa-Magenta serves domestic traffic.

Which currency is used?

The legal currency is the CFP franc, or Franc Pacifique (XPF), pegged to the euro at 1000 XPF = 8.38 euro (1 euro = 119.3317 XPF). The parity is guaranteed by the IEOM and the French state.

What is the most important export good?

Nickel dominates foreign trade: nickel ore, ferronickel and nickel matte go mainly to China, Japan, South Korea and France. However, since the unrest from May 2024 the nickel sector has been severely affected.

Are there currently special logistics risks?

Yes. Since May 2024 the unrest has burdened the economy and logistics: nickel plants are operating at reduced capacity or shut down, and there have been temporary fuel and transport shortages. In addition, the tropical cyclone season runs from November to April.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗