# Guinea-Bissau (GW)

**Capital:** Bissau  
**Currency:** CFA-Franc (BCEAO) (XOF) (XOF)  
**Population:** 2'201'352  
**Area:** 36'125 km²

> Guinea-Bissau is a small West African Atlantic country and a member of ECOWAS and UEMOA, using the euro-pegged CFA franc (XOF). Foreign trade runs almost entirely through the Port of Bissau and Osvaldo Vieira Airport (OXB). A value added tax (IVA) of 19 percent (reduced 10 percent) has applied since January 2025, and customs clearance has run on the DGA's ASYCUDAWorld system since January 2026. Cashew nuts and fish dominate exports, while fuel and food are imported. Weak infrastructure, political instability and long import lead times shape its logistics.

Guinea-Bissau (ISO code: GW) lies in West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean, bordering Senegal and Guinea. It is a presidential republic with fragile institutions and recurring governance and security challenges. The climate is tropical, with humid coastal zones, inland savannah and pronounced rainy and dry seasons. Agriculture is central to the economy, especially cashew nuts, fisheries and subsistence farming, while industry and services remain limited. Foreign trade is heavily focused on cashew nut and fish exports, while the country depends strongly on imports of food, fuel and manufactured goods. The Port of Bissau anchors the country's transit and logistics function despite infrastructure constraints. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro. Guinea-Bissau is a member of ECOWAS and UEMOA, and as a least developed country enjoys duty-free access to the EU market.

**Top Import Partners:** SN, PT, CN, NL, FR

**Top Export Partners:** IN, VN, PT, CN, ES

**Top Import Goods:** Erdölprodukte, Nahrungsmittel, Maschinen, Fahrzeuge, Baumaterialien

**Top Export Goods:** Cashewnüsse, Fisch, Erdnüsse, Holz

**Key Airports:**
- [Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/osvaldo-vieira-international-airport-oxb)
- [Bafatá Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bafata-airport-2255)
- [Bubaque Airport (BQE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bubaque-airport-bqe)
- [Cufar Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/cufar-airport-ggcf)
- [Gabu Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gabu-airport-11304)
- [Piche Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/piche-airport-26062)
- [Quebo Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/quebo-airport-27501)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** IVA seit 1.1.2025: Normalsatz 19 Prozent, ermässigter Satz 10 Prozent (u.a. Grundnahrungsmittel, Medikamente)  
**Customs complexity:** hoch  
**Customs system:** ASYCUDAWorld der DGA, landesweit produktiv seit 26.1.2026 (Ablösung von ASYCUDA++); angebunden u.a. Hafen Bissau, Flughafen OXB sowie São Domingos, Gabú und Bafatá.  
**Customs authority:** [Direção-Geral das Alfândegas (DGA), Ministério da Economia e Finanças](https://alfandegas.mef.gw)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Cashew-Exporteur / Atlantik-Hafenland Westafrika  
**Economic area:** ECOWAS / UEMOA  
**Logistics risk:** hoch  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** niedrig  
**Pharma/cold chain:** niedrig

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://alfandegas.mef.gw](https://alfandegas.mef.gw)
- [https://alfandegas.mef.gw/imposto-sobre-valor-acrescentado-iva/](https://alfandegas.mef.gw/imposto-sobre-valor-acrescentado-iva/)
- [https://asycuda.org/en/guinea-bissau-launches-asycudaworld-to-strengthen-customs-digitalization/](https://asycuda.org/en/guinea-bissau-launches-asycudaworld-to-strengthen-customs-digitalization/)
- [https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=GW](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=GW)

*Last verified: 2026-06-23*

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

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