# French Guiana (GF) **Capital:** Cayenne **Currency:** Euro (EUR) (EUR) **Population:** 308,522 — Older stored figure; source year not documented. **Area:** 83,534 km² > French Guiana is a French overseas department on the northeast coast of South America and part of the EU as an outermost region. Supplies arrive almost entirely by sea from Europe via the main port of Dégrad des Cannes near Cayenne, while Cayenne–Félix Eboué airport handles air cargo. A special feature is the Kourou space centre operating Ariane 6 and Vega-C. The EU Customs Code applies, but there is no VAT; instead, the octroi de mer is levied on imports. The currency is the euro. French Guiana (ISO code: GF) lies on the northeast coast of South America, bordering Brazil and Suriname. Politically it is a French overseas department and region, administered directly as part of France, and it belongs to the EU as an outermost region. The climate is tropical and humid, with high temperatures and a pronounced rainy season. Economically, public administration, space activities and services play the central roles, while agriculture and fishing make supplementary contributions. Foreign trade is dominated by imports of food, fuel, machinery and consumer goods, as the region is highly import-dependent. The main seaport of Dégrad des Cannes and the Cayenne–Félix Eboué international airport secure supply and logistics. The currency is the euro (EUR). French Guiana is strategically significant as the home of Europe's spaceport in Kourou. **Top Import Partners:** FR, BR, SR, US, CN **Top Export Partners:** FR, BR, SR, US, NL **Top Import Goods:** Food, Machinery, Vehicles, Fuels, Consumer goods **Top Export Goods:** Gold, Timber, Agricultural products, Satellite launch services **Key Airports:** - [Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (CAY)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/cayenne-felix-eboue-airport-cay) - [Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock Airport (OYP)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/saint-georges-de-loyapock-airport-oyp) - [Camopi Airport (OYC)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/camopi-airport-oyc) - [Grand-Santi Airport (GSI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/grand-santi-airport-gsi) - [Kourou Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/kourou-airport-17207) - [Mana Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/mana-airport-20042) - [Maripasoula Airport (MPY)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/maripasoula-airport-mpy) - [Ouanary Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ouanary-airport-24979) - [Régina Airport (REI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/regina-airport-rei) - [Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Airport (LDX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/saint-laurent-du-maroni-airport-ldx) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** No VAT (Art. 294-1 CGI). Instead, Octroi de mer applies: external average of 15 percent plus regional 2,5 percent, set by the Collectivité de Guyane. **Customs complexity:** medium **Customs system:** EU Customs Code; electronic import declaration via the French DELTA system. Guyane belongs to the EU customs territory but is a third territory for VAT. **Customs authority:** [Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Duties (DGDDI) – Customs Guyane](https://www.douane.gouv.fr) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** Overseas department of France; space and supply logistics (sea, air, road) **Economic area:** EU customs territory (RUP) **Logistics risk:** medium **Dangerous goods relevance:** medium **Pharma/cold chain:** medium ## FAQ ### Is value added tax (VAT) applied in French Guiana? No. Under Art. 294-1 of the French General Tax Code (CGI), VAT is provisionally not applicable in Guyane. Instead, Octroi de mer is levied on imports. ### What is the Octroi de mer? A specific levy on goods entering the territory. The external Octroi de mer averages 15 percent, the regional share about 2,5 percent; the rates are set by the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane. ### Which customs law applies in French Guiana? As an EU outermost region, the EU Customs Code applies. Imports are declared electronically via the French DELTA system; the competent authority is the French customs administration (DGDDI). ### Which port handles cargo traffic? Almost all sea cargo traffic runs through the main port, Dégrad des Cannes near Cayenne. The port of Pariacabo in Kourou serves mainly space logistics. ### Which airport handles air cargo? The international airport Cayenne–Félix Eboué (CAY) is the main cargo airport and can also handle larger cargo aircraft. ### Which currency is used? French Guiana uses the euro (EUR), as it is a French overseas department and part of the EU. ### What role does the space sector play for logistics? The Guiana Space Centre in Kourou operates Ariane 6 and Vega-C. It regularly generates special and heavy-lift transports, for example via the port of Pariacabo and by sea freight from Europe. ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/la-fiscalite-de-loctroi-de-mer-en-guyane](https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/la-fiscalite-de-loctroi-de-mer-en-guyane) - [https://www.douane.gouv.fr](https://www.douane.gouv.fr) - [https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/tva-dans-les-dom](https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/tva-dans-les-dom) - [https://www.ctguyane.fr/octroi-de-mer-tarif-exoneration/](https://www.ctguyane.fr/octroi-de-mer-tarif-exoneration/) - [https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/001760178](https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/001760178) - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9grad_des_Cannes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9grad_des_Cannes) - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_French_Guiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_French_Guiana) - [https://centrespatialguyanais.cnes.fr/en](https://centrespatialguyanais.cnes.fr/en) *Last verified: 2026-06-22* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/gf](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/gf)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/gf](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/gf)*