# Mali (ML)

**Capital:** Bamako  
**Currency:** West African CFA franc (XOF) (XOF)  
**Population:** 24'478'595  
**Area:** 1'240'192 km²

> Mali is a landlocked West African country that depends on neighbouring seaports, mainly Dakar and Abidjan. Road is the dominant transport mode; the Niger river and the rail link to Dakar play only a minor role. The country belongs to WAEMU (currency XOF, 18 percent VAT, common external tariff) and left ECOWAS in 2025; within the AES a 0.5 percent solidarity levy applies to imports. Security conditions and a fuel blockade since 2025 weigh on logistics.

Mali (ISO code ML) is a landlocked country in West Africa, governed by a transitional military-led regime under junta leader Assimi Goïta since the coups of 2020 and 2021. The climate is mostly arid to semi-arid with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The economy relies on agriculture, mining (above all gold) and services, and the country is heavily import-dependent, especially for fuel, food and industrial goods. Mali belongs to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) using the CFA franc (XOF) with an 18 percent VAT; in 2025 it left ECOWAS together with Burkina Faso and Niger and forms the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). As a landlocked state Mali depends on neighbouring seaports, mainly Dakar and Abidjan, through which most foreign trade moves by truck. The Niger river and the rail line to Dakar play only a secondary role. Despite infrastructure and security challenges, Mali remains an important transit country for regional trade connectivity.

**Top Import Partners:** SN, CI, CN, FR, IN

**Top Export Partners:** CH, IN, CN, AE, ZA

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

**Top Export Goods:** Gold, Baumwolle, Vieh, Agrarprodukte

**Key Airports:**
- [Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/modibo-keita-international-airport-bko)
- [Mopti Ambodédjo International Airport (MZI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/mopti-ambodedjo-international-airport-mzi)
- [Timbuktu Airport (TOM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/timbuktu-airport-tom)
- [Ansongo Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ansongo-airport-gaao)
- [Bafoulabé Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bafoulabe-airport-gabf)
- [Bandiagara Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bandiagara-airport-gabd)
- [Bougouni Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bougouni-airport-gabg)
- [Bourem Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bourem-airport-gabr)
- [Dioila Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/dioila-airport-8724)
- [Douentza Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/douentza-airport-gadz)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** TVA-Normalsatz 18 Prozent auf den Zollwert (Code général des impôts, DGI)  
**Customs complexity:** hoch  
**Customs system:** SYDONIA World; UEMOA-Zollkodex mit gemeinsamem Aussenzolltarif (TEC 0/5/10/20 Prozent). Zusätzlich AES-Solidaritätsabgabe 0,5 Prozent auf Importe ausserhalb der AES (seit 28.3.2025).  
**Customs authority:** [Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD)](https://douanes.gouv.ml)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Binnenstaat / Transitkorridor Westafrika / Goldexporteur  
**Economic area:** UEMOA / AES (seit 2025 ausserhalb ECOWAS)  
**Logistics risk:** hoch  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://douanes.gouv.ml](https://douanes.gouv.ml)
- [https://douanes.gouv.ml/code-des-douanes](https://douanes.gouv.ml/code-des-douanes)
- [https://douanes.gouv.ml/dedouanement](https://douanes.gouv.ml/dedouanement)
- [https://www.dgi.gouv.ml/CGI/](https://www.dgi.gouv.ml/CGI/)
- [https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites/3103-127115-l-aes-instaure-une-taxe-douaniere-de-0-5-sur-les-importations-pour-financer-ses-projets](https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites/3103-127115-l-aes-instaure-une-taxe-douaniere-de-0-5-sur-les-importations-pour-financer-ses-projets)
- [https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/la-c%C3%A9d%C3%A9ao-annonce-la-sortie-officielle-des-pays-de-laes-de-son-organisation/3465349](https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/la-c%C3%A9d%C3%A9ao-annonce-la-sortie-officielle-des-pays-de-laes-de-son-organisation/3465349)
- [https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=ML](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=ML)
- [https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/terminated-sanctions](https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/terminated-sanctions)

*Last verified: 2026-06-25*

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

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