Samoa: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 1 company, organisation, vessel or aircraft linked to Samoa.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

Check a shipment to Samoa →

On the sanctions lists

1 entries on the official lists name Samoa — 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)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Samoa recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Samoa: logistics and trade

Pacific island state, dependent on sea and air freight

Samoa (ISO code: WS) is an island state in the South Pacific, east of Fiji and west of American Samoa. It is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth and the United Nations. The climate is tropical, with high temperatures year-round, high humidity and a pronounced rainy and cyclone season from November to April. The economy is small-scale and relies heavily on agriculture, fisheries, tourism and remittances from abroad. Because of its island location, Samoa depends strongly on sea and air freight, with the Port of Apia playing the central role. Exports are dominated by agricultural produce, fishery products and processed foods, while import dependence is high, especially for fuels, machinery, vehicles and consumer goods. There is no significant transit function, but Samoa serves as a regional hub for inter-island cargo. The national currency is the Samoan Tala (WST).

Capital: Apia
Population: 218,019
Area: 2,842 km²
Currency: Samoan Tala (WST)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Polynesia / Pacific
Economic area: PACER Plus / Pacific Islands Forum
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Sea freight mainly via transhipment hubs (Auckland, Fiji/Suva); lines from New Zealand and Australia, among others. As of June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Cyclone and rainy season November to April with risk of port closures and delivery delays; tropical humid climate year-round.

Main seaports

Apia
Apia (WS APW), Samoa's main seaport, handles about 50,000 TEU with reefer, breakbulk and customs services; tranship via Pago Pago, Suva or Auckland.

Main cargo airports

Faleolo International AirportAPW
Faleolo (APW), 40 km west of Apia, is Samoa's main international gateway. Belly air cargo via Auckland and Nadi; heavy goods move by sea through Apia.

Road corridors

Apia - Faleolo (Upolu)
Ferry connection Mulifanua (Upolu) - Salelologa (Savaii)

Main trade lanes

New Zealand - Samoa
Australia - Samoa
Fiji/Pacific transhipment - Samoa
China - Samoa

Customs and import

Customs authority Ministry for Customs and Revenue (Customs and Tax Authority)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic clearance via ASYCUDA World (asyworld.revenue.gov.ws); import declaration by Customs Import Entry submitted by licensed customs agents.
Export customs system: Export declaration (Customs Export Entry) also via ASYCUDA World at the Ministry for Customs and Revenue.
Import VAT: VAGST (Value Added Goods and Services Tax) of 15 percent on the imported goods value (landed cost); basic foodstuffs and medical products are zero-rated or exempt.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Preferences under PACER Plus, PICTA and the EU-Pacific Interim EPA (EU market access duty-free and quota-free); proof by certificate of origin or origin declaration.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import bans and restrictions, including weapons, ammunition, drugs, endangered species (CITES); strict biosecurity for animals, plants and foodstuffs (MAF quarantine).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
Certificate of origin
Customs Import Entry (ASYCUDA)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Customs Export Entry
Certificate of origin / origin declaration
if applicable, phytosanitary/health certificate

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

New Zealand Australia China United States Singapore

Top export partners

New Zealand Australia United States China Japan

Top import goods

Foodstuffs
Fuels
Vehicles
Machinery
Construction materials

Top export goods

Fish
Coconut products
Beer
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Fuels
Foodstuffs and consumer goods
Vehicles
Machinery and construction materials
Fish and coconut products (export)

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Samoa?

Imported goods are subject to a 15 percent VAGST (Value Added Goods and Services Tax) on the landed-cost value. Certain basic foods and medical supplies are zero-rated or exempt.

How high are import duties?

Import duties under the Customs Tariff Act 1975 are mostly between 0 and 20 percent (ad valorem), sometimes supplemented by specific or compound rates. Higher rates and excises apply to items such as tobacco, alcohol and fuels.

Which customs authority is responsible and how is clearance handled?

The Ministry for Customs and Revenue is responsible. Clearance is electronic via ASYCUDA World; import and export declarations are usually filed through licensed customs brokers.

Which ports and airports handle freight?

Almost all international freight runs through the Port of Apia (Matautu) on Upolu. Air cargo is handled at Faleolo International Airport (APW). Savaii is served via Salelologa and the Mulifanua-Salelologa ferry.

Which trade agreements does Samoa use?

Samoa is a party to PACER Plus (in force since December 2020) and PICTA and has applied the EU-Pacific interim EPA since December 2018, which grants duty-free and quota-free access for Samoan goods to the EU market.

Which import restrictions apply?

Strict biosecurity and quarantine rules apply to animals, plants and food. Weapons, ammunition, drugs and protected species (CITES) are prohibited or require a permit.

What logistics risks should be considered?

The island location means long sea transit times, low shipping frequency and near-total reliance on the Port of Apia. During the cyclone and rainy season (November to April) port closures and delays are possible.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗