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

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

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

Check a shipment to Tuvalu →

On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Tuvalu.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Tuvalu recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Tuvalu: logistics and trade

Island import market / remote Pacific end point

Tuvalu (ISO code: TV) lies in the Pacific Ocean roughly midway between Hawaii and Australia and consists of nine low-lying atolls and reef islands. It is a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. The climate is tropical-maritime with a wet season from November to April. The economy rests on fishing, copra, licence fees, remittances and development aid; tourism is marginal. Tuvalu depends heavily on imports of food, fuel, consumer goods and building materials while exporting mainly fish and coconut products. Logistically the atolls have only small harbours, a single daytime airport and rudimentary roads, so the country plays almost no transit role. The currency is the Australian dollar (AUD).

Capital: Funafuti
Population: 10,643
Area: 26 km²
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Oceania / Pacific
Economic area: PACER Plus / PICTA / SPARTECA
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: One international container service per month (Neptune Pacific Direct Line) with around 80 containers; Funafuti International Airport operated in daylight only.
Seasonal conditions: Cyclone season from November to April; king tides and flooding of the flat atolls; rainy season with high humidity.

Road corridors

Inner-island road on Fongafale (Funafuti) - short local network, no national or regional corridors

Main trade lanes

Suva (Fiji) - Funafuti (sea freight, monthly container service)
Nadi/Suva - Funafuti (air freight as add-on cargo)
Australia/New Zealand - Funafuti (supply via Fiji)

Customs and import

Customs authority Tuvalu Revenue and Customs Department, Ministry of Finance and Economic DevelopmentOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic customs clearance via ASYCUDAWorld (tuvalu.asycuda.org); legal basis Customs Revenue and Border Protection Act 2014. Customs value based on CIF.
Export customs system: Export clearance also via ASYCUDAWorld; export permits and phytosanitary certificates issued by the responsible ministries (agriculture/fisheries).
Import VAT: Consumption Tax (TCT) 3 percent on taxable imports (Consumption Tax Regulations 2009; legal framework 3 to 10 percent).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proof of origin under PACER Plus, PICTA and SPARTECA; preferential market access mainly to Australia and New Zealand.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import permit for animals, plants and their products; control of weapons, narcotic drugs, ozone-depleting substances and CITES species; high duties on tobacco.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
Import permit (animals/plants/food)
Consumption Tax declaration

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export permit
Phytosanitary certificate (agricultural and fishery products)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Fiji Australia New Zealand China Japan

Top export partners

Fiji Australia New Zealand

Top import goods

Food
Fuels
Consumer goods
Building materials

Top export goods

Copra
Fish
Services

Typical cargo

Food
Fuel/distillate
Building materials
Consumer goods
Copra
Fish

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Tuvalu?

A 3 percent consumption tax (TCT) applies to taxable imports (Consumption Tax Regulations 2009). Customs duties under the Customs Revenue and Border Protection Act 2014 may apply on top.

How does cargo reach Tuvalu?

Through the Port of Funafuti, called roughly once a month by a container vessel (Neptune Pacific Direct Line), and in small volumes as belly cargo on Fiji Airways flights from Suva and Nadi.

Which customs system does Tuvalu use?

Tuvalu processes imports and exports electronically via ASYCUDAWorld (tuvalu.asycuda.org). The Tuvalu Revenue and Customs Department in the Ministry of Finance is responsible.

What currency is used in Tuvalu?

The legal tender is the Australian dollar (AUD). Tuvalu also mints its own coins pegged 1:1 to the AUD.

Is there an airport for air cargo?

Funafuti International Airport (FUN) is the only airport. It operates in daylight only and is served by Fiji Airways with ATR 72 aircraft; cargo capacity is limited to belly loads.

What does Tuvalu import and export?

Imports are mainly food, fuel, building materials and consumer goods. Exports are chiefly fish and coconut products (copra), complemented by fishing licence revenue.

What are the supply-chain risks?

Supply depends on a few monthly sailings and daytime flights via Fiji. Cyclones (November to April), king tides and rising sea levels threaten the low-lying atolls.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗