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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Saint Barthélemy.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Saint Barthélemy recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Saint Barthélemy: logistics and trade

Import-dependent tourism and luxury island; supplies via feeder services from Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten

Saint Barthélemy (ISO Code: BL) is located in the eastern Caribbean and is part of the Lesser Antilles, north of St. Kitts and south of St. Martin. Politically, the island is a French overseas territory with autonomy in administration and economy while being directly affiliated with France. The climate is tropical, with consistently high temperatures, high humidity, and a rainy season from July to November. Economically, Saint Barthélemy is heavily influenced by tourism, financial services, and trade, while agriculture and industry play virtually no role. In international trade, the country primarily exports services and local products, while it is fully reliant on imports for consumer goods, energy, and merchandise. Logistically, Saint Barthélemy has an international airport, ports, and a road network that enables the movement of goods and people on the island as well as regional connections. The national currency is the Euro (EUR), with the US Dollar being widely used in trade. Strategic investments focus on infrastructure, sustainable tourism, and logistics solutions to ensure competitiveness and regional integration.

Capital: Gustavia
Population: 10,685
Area: 25 km²
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean / Lesser Antilles
Economic area: EU OCT/PTOM (outside the EU customs and VAT area)
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Supplies via daily sea feeder services from Saint-Martin (RMP Caraïbes, Compagnie des Îles du Nord) and air freight via Sint Maarten SXM. Tourism drives import demand.
Seasonal conditions: Atlantic hurricane season June to November (e.g. Irma 2017 with severe damage); temporary interruptions of sea and air supplies.

Main cargo airports

Princess Juliana International AirportSXM
Princess Juliana (SXM): Caribbean cargo distributor with a dedicated terminal and Amerijet 767s; World Bank and EIB-funded terminal rebuild under way.

Road corridors

Island road network Gustavia - St. Jean - Lorient - Grand Cul-de-Sac

Main trade lanes

Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten - Saint-Barthélemy (sea feeder)
Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) - Saint-Barthélemy
France/EU - Saint-Barthélemy

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI); Droit de quai levied by the Collectivité de Saint-BarthélemyOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: As an OCT outside the EU customs territory: shipments from the EU/mainland are treated as exports and require a customs declaration/CN23. Droit de quai of 5 percent on the goods value plus transport costs.
Export customs system: Export handling via the DGDDI. Goods that later reach Guadeloupe, other DROM or the mainland are subject there to normal import VAT.
Import VAT: No TVA/VAT (exception: certain real estate transactions). Instead, a Droit de quai of 5 percent on all imported goods.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: As an EU OCT, origin preferences are in principle possible under the EU OCT Decision (ÜLG-Beschluss); in practice there are hardly any own goods exports (re-exports and services).
Restricted and prohibited goods: As in France/EU: weapons, narcotics, CITES species as well as certain foodstuffs and plants are regulated or prohibited.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Customs declaration / CN23
Transport document (bill of lading or air waybill)
Packing list

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Export declaration (DGDDI)
Shipping documents

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

France United States Netherlands Germany China

Top export partners

France

Top import goods

Foodstuffs
Consumer goods
Fuels
Construction materials

Top export goods

Re-exports
Services (luxury tourism)

Typical cargo

Food and beverages
Consumer and luxury goods
Construction materials
Fuels
Vehicles

Logistics questions

Is there VAT in Saint Barthélemy?

No. The island has no VAT. Instead a dock due (droit de quai) of 5 percent is levied on all imported goods, calculated on the value plus transport costs.

Is Saint Barthélemy part of the EU customs territory?

No. Since 1 January 2012 the island has been an EU OCT, outside the EU customs and VAT territory. Shipments from mainland EU count as exports for customs purposes.

Which documents does a shipment to Saint Barthélemy need?

Even shipments from France/EU require a customs declaration (e.g. CN23 for postal items) with a commercial invoice and precise goods description; missing paperwork causes delays.

How are goods transported to the island?

Via daily sea feeders from Saint-Martin (e.g. RMP Caraïbes, Compagnie des Îles du Nord) and air freight through Sint Maarten (SXM). There are no direct large-ship or jet connections.

Why can large aircraft not land in Saint Barthélemy?

Gustaf III Airport (SBH) in St. Jean has only a short runway of about 640 metres with a steep approach. Only small STOL propeller aircraft such as the Twin Otter operate; transfers usually go through Sint Maarten.

Does Gustavia have a container port?

No. Gustavia is a small commercial and yacht harbour without a deep-water or container terminal. Containers are transshipped via Saint-Martin and delivered by smaller vessels.

What applies if goods move on from the island to mainland EU?

Such goods count as an import into the EU and are subject to the normally due VAT on arrival in Guadeloupe, other French overseas departments or the mainland.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗