# Latvia (LV)

**Capital:** Riga  
**Currency:** Euro (EUR) (EUR)  
**Population:** 1'857'000  
**Area:** 64'559 km²

> Latvia is a Baltic EU and eurozone state on the Baltic Sea and an important transit and port hub. Sea cargo runs mainly through the free ports of Riga (the largest port in the Baltics) and Ventspils plus the port of Liepaja; air freight via Riga (RIX). Customs clearance is electronic through the VID tax authority's EMDAS system (AIS for imports, AES for exports) under the EU Customs Code. Imports are subject to 21 percent VAT (reduced 12 and 5 percent). As an EU external border with Russia and Belarus, strict sanctions and export controls apply; eastbound transit has fallen sharply and the Rail Baltica project is under construction.

Latvia (LV) is a Baltic EU and eurozone state on the Baltic Sea, acting as a transit and port hub on the EU external border with Russia and Belarus. As an EU member, Latvia is part of the customs union and single market; customs clearance runs electronically through the VID tax authority's EMDAS system (AIS for imports, AES for exports), and import VAT is 21 percent (reduced rates 12 and 5 percent). The main gateways are the free ports of Riga — the largest port in the Baltics — and Ventspils, the port of Liepaja in the special economic zone, and Riga International Airport (RIX) with the Baltic Cargo Hub. Key corridors are the Via Baltica (E67) Tallinn–Riga–Warsaw, the A6 towards Daugavpils and the broad-gauge network (1520 mm) eastward; the standard-gauge Rail Baltica line is under construction. Main exports are timber, food and machinery; imports include machinery, vehicles and chemicals. Key trading partners are Lithuania, Estonia, Germany and Sweden. Eastbound transit has fallen sharply due to sanctions.

**Top Import Partners:** LT, DE, PL, EE, RU

**Top Export Partners:** LT, EE, DE, SE, PL

**Top Import Goods:** Maschinen, Fahrzeuge, Chemikalien, Elektronik, Erdöl

**Top Export Goods:** Holz, Lebensmittel, Maschinen, Chemikalien, Metalle

**Key Airports:**
- [Riga International Airport (RIX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/riga-international-airport-rix)
- [Jēkabpils Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/jekabpils-air-base-airport-15543)
- [Jūrmala Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/jurmala-airport-34334)
- [Liepāja International Airport (LPX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/liepaja-international-airport-lpx)
- [Adamova Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/adamova-airstrip-airport-210)
- [Aloja Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aloja-airstrip-airport-834)
- [Barkava Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/barkava-airstrip-airport-2678)
- [Biržu lidlauks](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/birzu-lidlauks-airport-3661)
- [Cīrava Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/cirava-airport-8062)
- [Dricāni Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dricani-airstrip-airport-9039)

**Key Seaports:**
- [Riga (LV RIX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/riga-port-lv-rix)
- [Liepaja (LV LPX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/liepaja-port-lv-lpx)
- [Ventspils (LV VNT)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ventspils-port-lv-vnt)
- [Lielupe](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/lielupe-port-1917)
- [Salacgriva (LV SAL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/salacgriva-port-lv-sal)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** Einfuhr-MwSt (PVN) 21 Prozent Normalsatz  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** EU-Zollkodex (UCC); nationales System EMDAS mit Automated Import System (AIS); summarische Eingangsanmeldung über ICS2.  
**Customs authority:** [Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (VID) - Zollverwaltung (Muitas pārvalde)](https://www.vid.gov.lv/en)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Baltischer Transit- und Hafenhub an der EU-Aussengrenze zu Russland und Belarus  
**Economic area:** EU / Eurozone / Schengen  
**Logistics risk:** mittel  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://www.vid.gov.lv/en](https://www.vid.gov.lv/en)
- [https://www.vid.gov.lv/en/how-become-user-emdas](https://www.vid.gov.lv/en/how-become-user-emdas)
- [https://www.vid.gov.lv/en/services/customs-procedure-export](https://www.vid.gov.lv/en/services/customs-procedure-export)
- [https://rop.lv/en](https://rop.lv/en)
- [https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/population](https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/population)
- [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions-against-belarus/](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions-against-belarus/)
- [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/821/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/821/oj)
- [https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en](https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en)

*Last verified: 2026-07-24*

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

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