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

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

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

Check a shipment to Saint Helena →

On the sanctions lists

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

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Saint Helena recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Saint Helena: logistics and trade

Remote island supply in the South Atlantic

Saint Helena (ISO code: SH) is a remote island in the South Atlantic and, together with Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, forms a British Overseas Territory. The capital is Jamestown. The economy relies on public administration, services, tourism and limited agriculture and fisheries; almost all consumer goods, food and fuel are imported, mainly from the United Kingdom and South Africa. There is no VAT; the main trade levy is import duty (standard rate 20 percent), collected by HM Customs via ASYCUDA World. The island is supplied by the cargo vessel MV Helena from Cape Town and, since 2017, by a weekly Airlink flight from Johannesburg to St Helena Airport. The currency is the Saint Helena pound (SHP), pegged at par to the British pound (GBP).

Capital: Jamestown
Population: 4,058
Area: 122 km²
Currency: Saint Helena pound (SHP)
Continent: Africa
Region: South Atlantic / British Overseas Territories
Economic area: British Overseas Territory; outside the EU and UK customs/VAT area
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Air bridge since 2017: Airlink weekly Johannesburg–St Helena (via Walvis Bay), monthly onward to Ascension; cargo ship MV Helena serves the island from Cape Town.
Seasonal conditions: Subtropical maritime; swell and ground swell can temporarily prevent landing at James Bay and Calshot Harbour (Tristan).

Main cargo airports

RAF Ascension IslandASI
Wideawake Airfield (ASI) on Ascension is an RAF/US military base in the South Atlantic with no commercial air cargo — a Falklands air-bridge fuel stop.

Main trade lanes

Great Britain - St Helena
Cape Town - St Helena / Tristan da Cunha
Johannesburg - St Helena (air freight, Airlink)

Customs and import

Customs authority HM Customs St HelenaOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Declaration via HM Customs at Jamestown Wharf using ASYCUDA World (UNCTAD); legal basis Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999.
Export customs system: Export clearance via HM Customs (ASYCUDA World); small quantities, mainly fish and local products to Great Britain.
Import VAT: No VAT. Standard import duty 20 percent (CIF), reduced to 5 percent for buses/heavy vehicles/equipment; plus excise, liquor and services charges.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: British Overseas Territory without its own free trade agreements; preferences possibly via UK trade arrangements. Main export fish to Great Britain.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Strict biosecurity (plants, animals, food); weapons and ammunition require a permit. Details from HM Customs and at St Helena Airport.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of Lading / Waybill
Packing list
Import customs declaration (ASYCUDA)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Export declaration (ASYCUDA)
Certificate of origin (where required)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United Kingdom South Africa

Top export partners

United Kingdom

Top import goods

Food
Fuels
Consumer goods
Building materials

Top export goods

Coffee
Fish
Services

Typical cargo

Food
Fuels
Consumer goods
Building materials
Fish (export)

Logistics questions

Is there VAT on St. Helena?

No. St. Helena does not levy VAT. The main import tax is customs duty (standard rate 20 percent on the CIF value), supplemented by excise, liquor and services charges.

What is the import duty rate?

The standard rate is 20 percent; a reduced rate of 5 percent applies to buses, heavy vehicles and equipment. The basis is the St Helena tariff under the Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999.

Which customs authority is responsible?

HM Customs St Helena at Jamestown Wharf. Clearance is processed electronically via ASYCUDA World (UNCTAD).

How do goods reach St. Helena?

By sea freight via the cargo ship MV Helena from Cape Town to the anchorage at Jamestown (unloading by lighter, no deep-water quay). Air freight to a limited extent via St Helena Airport.

Are there flight connections?

Yes. Airlink has flown weekly from Johannesburg (via Walvis Bay) to St Helena Airport since October 2017, with onward flights to Ascension roughly monthly.

How are Ascension and Tristan da Cunha supplied?

Ascension via the port of Georgetown and Wideawake Airfield (military airfield). Tristan da Cunha has no airport; supply is by ship from Cape Town (around 6 days) to Calshot Harbour.

Which currency applies?

The St Helena pound (SHP) is pegged 1:1 to the British pound sterling (GBP); GBP is also in circulation.

Are there import restrictions?

Yes. Strict biosecurity rules apply to plants, animals and food; weapons and ammunition require a permit. Details from HM Customs and at St Helena Airport.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗