# Eritrea (ER)

**Capital:** Asmara  
**Currency:** Eritrean Nakfa (ERN) (ERN)  
**Population:** 3'800'000  
**Area:** 117'600 km²

> Eritrea on the Red Sea is a coastal logistics location with the ports of Massawa and Assab as central sea gateways and Asmara as an air freight hub. Foreign trade is limited in volume and focused on raw material exports (gold, minerals) and imports of machinery, vehicles, fuel and food. Customs processing was migrated to ASYCUDA World in 2024. Foreign-currency shortages, limited infrastructure and bureaucratic processes shape the high logistics risk.

Eritrea (ISO-Code: ER) is located at the Horn of Africa by the Red Sea, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Politically, the country is a unitary presidential republic with a centralized leadership and limited democratic structures. The climate is predominantly arid to semi-arid, with hot temperatures in coastal and desert regions, as well as cooler conditions in highland areas. Economically, Eritrea is heavily oriented towards mining, agriculture, and port operations, while international trade remains limited. Foreign trade primarily includes raw materials and food imports, while the country is highly dependent on imports of machinery, fuel, and consumer goods. Strategically located ports like Massawa ensure transit and logistics functions for regional trade in the Red Sea. The national currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN), which enables stable trade and financial transactions within the country. Eritrea plays a role as a regional logistics hub and benefits from its location on key shipping routes. Infrastructure, geographical location, and resource orientation shape the economic and logistical significance of the country.

**Top Import Partners:** CN, AE, SA, IN, EG

**Top Export Partners:** CN, AE, CA, ZA, CH

**Top Import Goods:** Maschinen, Fahrzeuge, Erdölprodukte, dlektronische Geräte, Lebensmittel

**Top Export Goods:** Gold, Edelsteine, Landwirtschaftliche Produkte, Tierprodukte, Salz und Meeresprodukte

**Key Airports:**
- [Asmara International Airport (ASM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/asmara-international-airport-asm)
- [Assab International Airport (ASA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/assab-international-airport-asa)
- [Massawa International Airport (MSW)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/massawa-international-airport-msw)
- [Agordat Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/agordat-airport-hhag)
- [Barentu Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/barentu-airport-2664)
- [Dahlak Central Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dahlak-central-airport-8617)
- [Dahlak South Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dahlak-south-airport-8110)
- [Dahlak West Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dahlak-west-airport-21087)
- [Keren Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/keren-airport-16381)
- [Omhajer Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/omhajer-airport-24603)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** Keine Mehrwertsteuer  
**Customs complexity:** hoch  
**Customs system:** Eritrea nutzt seit 2024 ASYCUDA World (UNCTAD) mit Single-Window-Ansatz; löste das papierbasierte Altsystem von 2007 ab. Abwicklung über die Customs and Excise Division des Finanzministeriums.  
**Customs authority:** Eritrean Customs (Customs and Excise Division, Finanzministerium)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Rotes-Meer-Hafenstandort / Rohstoffexporteur  
**Economic area:** COMESA  
**Logistics risk:** hoch  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** niedrig bis mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://www.undp.org/eritrea/news/eritrea-launches-landmark-digital-customs-system-modernizing-trade](https://www.undp.org/eritrea/news/eritrea-launches-landmark-digital-customs-system-modernizing-trade)
- [https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/customs-automation-ASYCUDA](https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/customs-automation-ASYCUDA)
- [https://www.pwc.co.za/en/publications/vat-in-africa/eritrea-overview.html](https://www.pwc.co.za/en/publications/vat-in-africa/eritrea-overview.html)
- [https://www.sipri.org/databases/embargoes/un_arms_embargoes/Eritrea/Arms_embargo_on_Eritrea](https://www.sipri.org/databases/embargoes/un_arms_embargoes/Eritrea/Arms_embargo_on_Eritrea)
- [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/arms-embargo-on-eritrea](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/arms-embargo-on-eritrea)
- [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Market_for_Eastern_and_Southern_Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Market_for_Eastern_and_Southern_Africa)
- [https://data.worldbank.org/country/eritrea](https://data.worldbank.org/country/eritrea)
- [https://www.britannica.com/place/Eritrea](https://www.britannica.com/place/Eritrea)

*Last verified: 2026-06-22*

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*Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/er](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/er)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/er](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/er)*