# Guatemala (GT)

**Capital:** Guatemala City  
**Currency:** Guatemaltekischer Quetzal (GTQ) (GTQ)  
**Population:** 17'843'132  
**Area:** 108'889 km²

> Guatemala is Central America's largest economy and a key agricultural-export and transit country with ports on both oceans. VAT (IVA) is 12 percent on the CIF value; customs clearance runs through the SAT using the DUCA declaration. Guatemala belongs to CAFTA-DR, the Central American Common Market and agreements with the EU and EFTA. The main ports are Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) and Santo Tomas de Castilla (Caribbean); the currency is the quetzal (GTQ).

Guatemala (ISO GT) is the most populous country and largest economy in Central America, bordering Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, with coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. The economy combines agriculture, manufacturing (textiles) and services; key exports are coffee, bananas, sugar, cardamom and apparel, while the country relies heavily on imports of fuel, machinery and consumer goods. Import VAT (IVA) is 12 percent on the CIF value, administered by the SAT through the DUCA customs declaration. Guatemala is part of CAFTA-DR, the Central American Common Market and free trade agreements with the EU, EFTA, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Taiwan. The main gateways are Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific and Santo Tomas de Castilla and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean, handling about 96 percent of foreign trade, complemented by La Aurora International Airport (GUA) for air cargo. The currency is the quetzal (GTQ).

**Top Import Partners:** US, CN, MX, SV, CR

**Top Export Partners:** US, HN, SV, NI, MX

**Top Import Goods:** Mineralöle, Maschinen, Fahrzeuge, Elektronik, Chemie

**Top Export Goods:** Kaffee, Bananen, Zucker, Gemüse, Textilien

**Key Airports:**
- [La Aurora Airport (GUA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/la-aurora-airport-gua)
- [Coban Airport (CBV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/coban-airport-cbv)
- [Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/mundo-maya-international-airport-frs)
- [Puerto Barrios Airport (PBR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/puerto-barrios-airport-pbr)
- [Retalhuleu Airport (RER)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/retalhuleu-airport-rer)
- [Rubelsanto Airport (RUV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/rubelsanto-airport-ruv)
- [San José Airport (GSJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/san-jose-airport-gsj)
- [Bananera Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bananera-airport-22075)
- [Canilla Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/canilla-airport-5482)
- [Carmelita Airport (CMM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/carmelita-airport-cmm)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** IVA 12 Prozent auf CIF-Wert plus Einfuhrzoll (Decreto 27-92). Kleinunternehmer-Regime 5 Prozent ohne Vorsteuerabzug.  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** Einfuhr elektronisch über DUCA-D (Drittländer) bzw. DUCA-F (zentralamerikanischer Ursprung); FYDUCA in der Zollunion mit Honduras und El Salvador. Abwicklung durch SAT-Aduanas.  
**Customs authority:** [Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT) - Intendencia de Aduanas](https://portal.sat.gob.gt)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Agrarexporteur und zentralamerikanisches Transitland mit Häfen am Pazifik und an der Karibik  
**Economic area:** SIECA / Zentralamerikanischer Gemeinsamer Markt (MCCA)  
**Logistics risk:** mittel  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://portal.sat.gob.gt](https://portal.sat.gob.gt)
- [https://www.sieca.int/factura-y-declaracion-unica-centroamericana-fyduca/](https://www.sieca.int/factura-y-declaracion-unica-centroamericana-fyduca/)
- [https://www.sica.int/iniciativas/duca](https://www.sica.int/iniciativas/duca)
- [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/guatemala-trade-agreements](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/guatemala-trade-agreements)
- [https://www.infobae.com/guatemala/2026/05/25/el-movimiento-portuario-de-guatemala-crece-un-11-en-2025-y-afianza-su-peso-en-el-comercio-maritimo-regional/](https://www.infobae.com/guatemala/2026/05/25/el-movimiento-portuario-de-guatemala-crece-un-11-en-2025-y-afianza-su-peso-en-el-comercio-maritimo-regional/)
- [https://www.vidayexito.net/negocios/puerto-santo-tomas-de-guatemala-establecio-record-de-carga-en-2025/](https://www.vidayexito.net/negocios/puerto-santo-tomas-de-guatemala-establecio-record-de-carga-en-2025/)
- [https://www.ine.gob.gt/proyecciones/](https://www.ine.gob.gt/proyecciones/)
- [https://globalsanctions.com/region/guatemala/](https://globalsanctions.com/region/guatemala/)

*Last verified: 2026-06-23*

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