Virgin Islands (U.S.): 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 Virgin Islands (U.S.).Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

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

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

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Virgin Islands (U.S.).

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Virgin Islands (U.S.) recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Virgin Islands (U.S.): logistics and trade

Caribbean island territory / tourism and transit hub

The U.S. Virgin Islands (ISO code: VI) lie in the Caribbean east of Puerto Rico and comprise the main islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Politically they are an unincorporated territory of the United States with local self-government but under U.S. sovereignty. The capital is Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas. The climate is tropical maritime, with hurricane risk roughly from June to November. The economy is dominated by tourism, complemented by services, trade and rum production (notably on St. Croix). The formerly important oil refinery on St. Croix has been idle since 2021. For customs purposes the islands lie outside the U.S. customs territory: imports are handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue, with an import excise tax levied instead of a sales tax or VAT. Freight moves mainly by sea (Crown Bay on St. Thomas, the container port on St. Croix) and via Cyril E. King and Henry E. Rohlsen airports. The islands are heavily import-dependent and serve as a logistics hub in the northern Caribbean. The currency is the U.S. dollar (USD).

Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Population: 87,146
Area: 346 km²
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean
Economic area: US outlying area (outside US customs territory)
Religions: Christianity, Various
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: The St. Croix refinery (formerly Limetree Bay/HOVENSA, now Port Hamilton) has been shut down since 2021; restart efforts are under way in 2025/2026, but a restart is not yet approved. As of June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical maritime climate; hurricane season roughly June to November, with risk of storm, wind and flood disruptions to sea and air transport.

Main cargo airports

Cyril E. King AirportSTT
Cyril E. King (STT), St. Thomas: single 2,134 m runway, Amerijet cargo from Miami. Heavy freight via St. Croix (STX) or San Juan (SJU). Runway works in 2026.
Henry E Rohlsen AirportSTX
Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX), St. Croix: 3,049 m runway, 747-rated, 24h. Amerijet flies 767 freighters from Miami — the USVI's main air-cargo gateway.

Road corridors

St. Thomas: Charlotte Amalie - STT Airport
St. Croix: Christiansted - Frederiksted

Main trade lanes

USVI - US mainland
USVI - Puerto Rico
USVI - Dominican Republic
USVI - Trinidad and Tobago

Customs and import

Customs authority U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USVI) and V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Import clearance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection together with the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue. The USVI are outside the U.S. customs territory; foreign goods are subject to an import duty of about 6 percent of the value.
Export customs system: Export clearance via CBP and BIR. Goods of US origin are duty-free when shipped to the US main zone, but are subject to excise tax. US export declaration (EEI/AES) depending on the case.
Import VAT: No general VAT. Instead, the BIR levies an import excise tax, usually about 4 percent of the goods value; higher rates apply to tobacco, alcohol and certain goods, among others.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: No separate free trade agreement. As a US territory, US origin rules apply; local value added can enable duty-free access to the US main zone.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import controls apply to weapons, ammunition, narcotics, and agricultural and biosecurity goods, among others. US bans and restrictions also apply.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Import declaration (CBP/BIR)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
US export documents (EEI/AES) if applicable

Logistics conditions

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

Trade

Top import partners

United States Puerto Rico China Dominican Republic Trinidad and Tobago

Top export partners

United States Puerto Rico China Dominican Republic Trinidad and Tobago

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Consumer goods
Vehicles
Machinery

Top export goods

Refined petroleum products
Electronics
Services (tourism)

Typical cargo

Food
Fuel / petroleum products
Consumer goods
Vehicles
Building materials

Logistics questions

Are the U.S. Virgin Islands part of the U.S. customs territory?

No. The USVI are a US territory but lie outside the US customs territory. Foreign goods are generally subject to an import duty of about 6 percent of the value; goods of US origin are duty-free when shipped from the US main zone, but are subject to excise tax.

Is there a value added tax (VAT) on imports?

No, there is no general VAT or sales tax. Instead, the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue levies an import excise tax, usually about 4 percent of the goods value. Higher rates apply to tobacco, alcohol and certain goods, among others.

Which authorities are responsible for customs clearance?

Imports are handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in cooperation with the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). CBP controls the import of goods, while the BIR levies the excise tax and local duties.

Through which ports and airports does freight traffic pass?

The main cargo ports are the Crown Bay Cargo Port on St. Thomas and the container port (Wilfred Allick Port) on St. Croix. Air cargo runs through Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St. Croix. The operator is the Virgin Islands Port Authority.

Which documents are required for import?

Typical documents are the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (bill of lading or air waybill) and an import declaration to CBP/BIR. Depending on the goods, additional permits or quarantine requirements may apply.

What are the most important import and export goods?

Mainly food, fuel and petroleum products, consumer goods, vehicles and building materials are imported. Historically, important exports have been rum and petroleum products; however, the St. Croix refinery has been shut down since 2021.

Which logistics risks should be considered?

The island location creates dependence on a few liner services and frequent transshipment via Puerto Rico or the US mainland. In addition, during hurricane season (roughly June to November) there is a risk of storm and flood disruptions to sea and air transport.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗