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

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Vanuatu.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Vanuatu recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Vanuatu: logistics and trade

Pacific island state / import-dependent end market

Vanuatu (ISO code: VU) lies in the South Pacific east of Australia and north of New Caledonia and consists of an archipelago of more than 80 islands. Politically it is a parliamentary republic within the Commonwealth, with an elected president as head of state. The climate is tropical with warm temperatures, high humidity and a cyclone season from November to April. The economy rests on agriculture, fishing, tourism and services, with exports such as copra, kava, beef and fish providing key revenue. In external trade the country depends heavily on imports of consumer goods, fuel, food and building materials. Logistically Vanuatu is served by the ports of Port Vila and Luganville, the international airports of Bauerfield and Santo-Pekoa, and a limited road network. The national currency is the Vanuatu vatu (VUV).

Capital: Port Vila
Population: 327,777
Area: 12,189 km²
Currency: Vanuatu vatu (VUV)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Pacific / Melanesia
Economic area: MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group)
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road

Current situation: Earthquake (Mw 7.3) on 17.12.2024 damaged the access road to the main port of Port Vila; ADB grant of 24,4 million USD (Dec 2025) finances the reconstruction of Wharf Road.
Seasonal conditions: Cyclone season November to April; tropical storms and heavy rain can disrupt ports and air operations.

Main seaports

Port Vila
Port Vila (VU VLI) is Vanuatu's main seaport. The Lapetasi wharf (2018) handles containers, breakbulk and bonded cargo for Efate and the outer islands.
Luganville
Luganville (VU LUG): main port of northern Vanuatu on Espiritu Santo. Copra, fish, beef, imports; 360 m wharf. Feeder traffic; alternative: Port Vila.

Main cargo airports

Bauerfield International AirportVLI
Bauerfield International (VLI), Port Vila: 2,600 m runway up to A330, ~1,125 t cargo (2019), cold storage. Vanuatu's main gateway, mostly belly freight.
Santo Pekoa International AirportSON
Santo Pekoa International (SON), Luganville: 2,400 m wartime-built runway, now regional. Cargo mostly belly; heavy freight via Bauerfield (VLI).

Road corridors

Efate Ring Road (Port Vila)
Santo East Coast Road (Luganville)

Main trade lanes

Australia - Vanuatu
New Zealand - Vanuatu
China - Vanuatu
Fiji transhipment - Vanuatu

Customs and import

Customs authority Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (DCIR)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Customs clearance through ASYCUDA World as an electronic Single Window in Port Vila and Luganville; customs value on CIF basis, then import duty plus 15 per cent VAT.
Export customs system: Export declaration via ASYCUDA World Single Window; licence or quota requirement for round logs, fish and other natural resources.
Import VAT: 15 per cent VAT on most imports (rate since 2018).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Proof of origin for MSG free trade and PACER Plus (Australia/New Zealand); PICTA applies a value-added rule of 40 per cent.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited are narcotics, obscene material, certain automatic weapons and protected species. Permit required for animals, plants and used machinery (biosecurity).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading or air waybill (B/L or AWB)
Packing list
Certificate of origin
Import or biosecurity permit if required

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / waybill
Export licence for quota-controlled goods
Proof of origin (MSG/PACER Plus)

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

Australia New Zealand China Singapore Japan

Top export partners

Japan China Australia

Top import goods

Food
Fuels
Vehicles
Machinery
Building materials

Top export goods

Beef
Copra
Kava
Fish

Typical cargo

Copra
Kava
Beef
Fish
Fuel
Consumer goods
Building materials

Logistics questions

What is the import tax rate in Vanuatu?

A VAT of 15 per cent is levied on most imports (rate since 2018), in addition to the import duty applicable on a CIF basis.

Which customs system does Vanuatu use?

Vanuatu clears customs electronically via ASYCUDA World as a Single Window in Port Vila and Luganville.

What are the main ports and airports?

The main ports are Port Vila (Lapetasi International Wharf) and Luganville; the international airports are Bauerfield (VLI) and Santo-Pekoa (SON).

Which free trade agreements apply to Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is part of the MSG free trade area, of PACER Plus with Australia and New Zealand, and has been a WTO member since 2012.

What may not be imported into Vanuatu?

Prohibited items include narcotics, obscene material, certain automatic weapons and protected species; animals, plants and used machinery require a permit.

What weather and natural risks exist for logistics?

The cyclone season lasts from November to April; there are also earthquake and volcanic risks. The earthquake of December 2024 damaged the port access road in Port Vila.

Which currency applies in Vanuatu?

The legal tender is the Vanuatu vatu (VUV).

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗