# North Macedonia (MK) **Capital:** Skopje **Currency:** Macedonian Denar (MKD) (MKD) **Population:** 1,822,612 — Older stored figure; source year not documented. **Area:** 25,713 km² > North Macedonia is a landlocked country in the central Balkans and a regionally important transit country between Central and Southeastern Europe. It is not an EU member but an EU accession candidate (Stabilisation and Association Agreement since 2004), a CEFTA member and linked through an EFTA free trade agreement. Customs are handled by the Customs Administration (Carinska uprava) using the Single Administrative Document; since 1 July 2015 North Macedonia has been a member of the Common Transit Convention and uses NCTS (Phase 5 since 13 January 2025). Import VAT is generally 18 percent (reduced rates of 10 and 5 percent). As the country has no seaport, overseas traffic mainly runs through the ports of Thessaloniki (Greece) and Durres (Albania). Inland transport is centred on the Pan-European Corridor X (Tabanovce - Skopje - Gevgelija) running north-south and Corridor VIII running east-west. Air freight is handled at Skopje (SKP) and Ohrid (OHD) airports. The national currency is the Denar (MKD). North Macedonia (ISO code: MK) is a landlocked country in the central Balkans, bordering Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Serbia. It is a parliamentary republic, not an EU member but an EU accession candidate (Stabilisation and Association Agreement in force since 2004) as well as a member of CEFTA and party to an EFTA free trade agreement. Customs are handled by the Customs Administration (Carinska uprava) using the Single Administrative Document; since 1 July 2015 the country has been a member of the Common Transit Convention and uses the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS, Phase 5 since 13 January 2025). Import VAT is generally 18 percent, with reduced rates of 10 and 5 percent. Its export-oriented economy is shaped by metals and ferro-alloys, textiles and clothing, machinery and vehicle parts as well as agricultural products such as wine, vegetables and tobacco, with Germany as the main trading partner. As the country has no seaport, overseas trade mainly runs through Thessaloniki (Greece) and Durres (Albania). Inland transport centres on the Pan-European Corridor X (Tabanovce - Skopje - Gevgelija) and the east-west Corridor VIII, while air freight is handled at Skopje (SKP) and Ohrid (OHD) airports. The national currency is the Macedonian Denar (MKD). **Top Import Partners:** DE, GB, GR, RS, BG **Top Export Partners:** DE, BG, RS, XK, GR **Top Import Goods:** Mineral oils, Machinery, Electronic devices, Vehicles, Chemical products **Top Export Goods:** Metals, Textiles, Machinery, Agricultural products, Chemicals **Key Airports:** - [Skopje International Airport (SKP)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/skopje-international-airport-skp) - [Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ohrid-st-paul-the-apostle-airport-ohd) - [Krivolak Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/krivolak-airstrip-airport-7876) - [Kumanovo Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/kumanovo-airport-17403) - [Logovardi Sport Aerodrome](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/logovardi-sport-airport-19054) - [Malo Konjari Sport Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/malo-konjari-sport-airport-19996) - [Peshirovo Sveti Nikole Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/peshirovo-sveti-nikole-airport-25934) - [Ponikva Highway Airstrip](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ponikva-highway-airstrip-airport-24884) - [Stenkovec Brazda Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/stenkovec-brazda-airport-4364) - [Suchevo Recreational Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/suchevo-recreational-airport-lwst) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** 18 percent (standard rate) **Customs complexity:** medium **Customs system:** Electronic import processing by the customs administration using the single administrative document (SAD). North Macedonia has been a member of the Common Transit Procedure since 1.7.2015 and uses NCTS (Phase 5 since 13.1.2025). **Customs authority:** [Customs Administration of the Republic of North Macedonia (Carinska uprava / Customs Administration)](https://customs.gov.mk) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** Inland transit market in the Balkans, Corridors X and VIII **Economic area:** CEFTA; EU accession candidate (SAA since 2004) **Logistics risk:** low to medium **Dangerous goods relevance:** medium **Pharma/cold chain:** medium ## FAQ ### Is North Macedonia part of the EU or the EU customs union? No. North Macedonia is not an EU member but an EU accession candidate. Since 2004, a Stabilisation and Association Agreement has been in place with the EU; the country is also a member of CEFTA and linked through an EFTA free trade agreement. ### What is the import tax (VAT) in North Macedonia? The standard rate is 18 percent. In addition, reduced rates of 10 and 5 percent apply to certain goods and services (e.g. basic foodstuffs, medicines). VAT is collected by the Public Revenue Office (UJP). ### Which customs system does North Macedonia use? The customs administration (Carinska uprava) processes declarations electronically via the single administrative document (SAD). For transit, North Macedonia has been a member of the Common Transit Procedure since 1. July 2015 and uses the NCTS (Phase 5 since 13. January 2025). ### Does North Macedonia have a seaport? No, North Macedonia is a landlocked country without its own seaport. Overseas shipments mainly run via the ports of Thessaloniki (Greece) and Durres (Albania) and are then transported onward by road or rail. ### Which transport corridors are central to the transport of goods? The most important axis is the Pan-European Corridor X (Tabanovce - Skopje - Gevgelija) running north-south, which connects Serbia with Greece. In the east-west direction, Corridor VIII runs from Albania via Skopje to Bulgaria. ### Which proof of origin applies in preferential trade? The usual documents are the movement certificate EUR.1, EUR-MED and the origin declaration on the invoice. Since 1. January 2025, the revised rules of origin of the PEM Convention apply, which allow cumulation with the EU, EFTA and CEFTA. ### Are there export controls or sanctions in North Macedonia? Yes. As an EU accession candidate, North Macedonia follows the EU's common foreign and security policy and adopts EU sanctions, for example against Russia. Dual-use and military goods are subject to national export control. ### Which currency does North Macedonia use? The national currency is the Macedonian denar (MKD). It is de facto pegged to the euro; the euro is widely used in trade but is not legal tender. ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://customs.gov.mk](https://customs.gov.mk) - [https://ujp.gov.mk](https://ujp.gov.mk) - [https://stat.gov.mk](https://stat.gov.mk) - [https://customs.gov.mk/index.php/en/e-carina-2/ncts-mk/432-ncts-mk](https://customs.gov.mk/index.php/en/e-carina-2/ncts-mk/432-ncts-mk) - [https://www.stat.gov.mk](https://www.stat.gov.mk) - [https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/north-macedonia](https://www.efta.int/free-trade/free-trade-agreements/north-macedonia) - [https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/international-affairs/enlargement_en](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/international-affairs/enlargement_en) - [https://investnorthmacedonia.gov.mk/ftas/](https://investnorthmacedonia.gov.mk/ftas/) *Last verified: 2026-06-26* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/mk](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/mk)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/mk](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/mk)*