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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

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

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Saint Lucia recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Saint Lucia: logistics and trade

Island state in the Eastern Caribbean; tourism and import market

Saint Lucia (ISO code: LC) is an island state in the Eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles, south of Martinique and north-east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth, CARICOM, the OECS and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The climate is tropical with a rainy season from June to November. The economy is built on tourism, agriculture, fisheries and services, with bananas the leading export, while energy, consumer and industrial goods are largely imported. Logistically the country relies on its seaports (Castries and Vieux Fort) and airports (Hewanorra International and George F. L. Charles), which secure cargo and passenger flows and limited regional transit functions. The currency is the East Caribbean dollar (XCD), pegged to the US dollar.

Capital: Castries
Population: 172,948
Area: 617 km²
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean / OECS
Economic area: CARICOM / OECS / CSME / ECCU
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Main transhipment via Port Castries; Vieux Fort with Hewanorra in the south as an industrial and cargo location. Supply is heavily dependent on sea freight.
Seasonal conditions: Atlantic hurricane season from June to November with risk of tropical storms, heavy rain and operational disruptions at ports and airports.

Main seaports

Castries
Castries (LC CAS) is Saint Lucia's main seaport: a six-berth container terminal handling general and bulk cargo plus cruise calls. Larger volumes route via Bridgetown.
Vieux Fort
Vieux Fort (LC VIF): Saint Lucia's only full container port, ~196,000 t a year, with RoRo, petroleum and bananas. Castries complements for cruise and ferry traffic.
Grand Cul De Sac Bay
Grand Cul De Sac Bay (LC CDS): Buckeye oil transshipment terminal on St Lucia for crude, products and LPG. No container or general cargo.

Main cargo airports

Hewanorra International AirportUVF
Hewanorra International (UVF), Saint Lucia: the island's only widebody gateway and main air-cargo point, belly freight to New York, Miami, London.
George F. L. Charles AirportSLU
George F. L. Charles (SLU/TLPC), Castries: Saint Lucia in-town airport, belly cargo capped near 2,270 kg per shipment – intercontinental via Hewanorra (UVF).

Road corridors

Castries - Gros Islet (north)
Castries - Vieux Fort (west coast/Millennium Highway)

Main trade lanes

USA - St. Lucia
Trinidad and Tobago - St. Lucia
CARICOM intra-regional

Customs and import

Customs authority Saint Lucia Customs & Excise DepartmentOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic customs declaration via ASYCUDA World; customs value on CIF basis; customs duty rates according to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET).
Export customs system: Export declaration via ASYCUDA World at the Customs & Excise Department; certificates of origin in CARICOM trade.
Import VAT: VAT 12,5 percent standard rate; 10/7 percent tourism; 0 percent for fuel, water, electricity, exports, among others. Additionally Health and Citizen Security Levy 2,5 percent on CIF.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: CARICOM certificate of origin in regional trade; preferences including under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import licences/prohibitions, among others for weapons and ammunition, certain agricultural products, medicines, and protected species (CITES).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
Packing list
Certificate of origin
Import licence (if required)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
Packing list
CARICOM certificate of origin declaration
Export declaration (ASYCUDA World)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States Trinidad and Tobago China United Kingdom Canada

Top export partners

United States United Kingdom Trinidad and Tobago Martinique Grenada

Top import goods

Food
Fuels
Consumer goods
Construction materials
Vehicles

Top export goods

Bananas
Beverages
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Foodstuffs
Fuels
Consumer goods
Construction materials
Vehicles
Bananas (export)

Logistics questions

Which customs authority is responsible in St. Lucia?

The Saint Lucia Customs & Excise Department (customs.gov.lc). Customs declarations are made electronically via ASYCUDA World, usually through a licensed Customs Broker.

What is the import value added tax (VAT) rate?

The VAT standard rate is 12,5 percent. The tourism sector is subject to 10 or 7 percent; certain goods such as fuel, water, electricity and exports are subject to 0 percent. The registration threshold is 400'000 XCD annual turnover.

Are there other charges besides customs duty and VAT?

Yes. Since 2. August 2023, a Health and Citizen Security Levy of 2,5 percent has been charged on the CIF value of imports. Excise duties also apply to fuel, alcohol, beer and cigarettes.

Which tariff applies to import duties?

As a CARICOM member, St. Lucia applies the CARICOM Common External Tariff. The customs value is based on the CIF value; many consumer goods are at around 20 percent.

Which seaports are there?

The main seaport is Port Castries (containers, general cargo, cruise). Port Vieux Fort in the south serves mainly as a transhipment port alongside Hewanorra Airport and the adjacent free zone. The operator is SLASPA.

Which airports are relevant for air freight?

Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) near Vieux Fort handles international flights and air cargo (including Amerijet from Miami). George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) in Castries mainly serves intra-Caribbean traffic.

Are there trade preferences?

Within CARICOM, duty-free trade applies with a CARICOM certificate of origin. In addition, preferences exist under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

What is the largest logistics risk?

The Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. Tropical storms and heavy rain can temporarily interrupt port and air operations; the high import dependence increases the impact.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗