# Palau (PW)

**Capital:** Ngerulmud  
**Currency:** US Dollar (USD) (USD)  
**Population:** 17'614  
**Area:** 459 km²

> Palau is an import-dependent island state in Micronesia with one main seaport (Malakal/Koror) and one international airport (ROR). Since 2023 a 10 percent PGST applies, plus a 3 percent import tax on FOB value. Customs clearance runs on ASYCUDA World.

Palau (ISO code PW) is an island state in the western Pacific in the Micronesia region and a presidential republic. The climate is tropical-maritime with high humidity and a rainy season from July to October. The economy is dominated by tourism, fisheries and services, and the country is heavily import-dependent. Main imports are food, fuel, consumer goods and construction materials, while exports focus on fish products. Foreign-trade logistics run through the Malakal Commercial Port near Koror and the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), connected by regional lines to Guam and Asia. Since 1 January 2023 Palau levies a Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) of 10 percent, plus a 3 percent import tax on the FOB value of most commercial goods. Customs clearance is handled by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection via ASYCUDA World. The currency is the US dollar. Palau has maintained a Compact of Free Association with the United States since 1994.

**Top Import Partners:** US, JP, CN, PH, KR

**Top Export Partners:** JP, CN, KR, US

**Top Import Goods:** Nahrungsmittel, Treibstoffe, Konsumgüter, Baumaterialien, Fahrzeuge

**Top Export Goods:** Fisch, Dienstleistungen

**Key Airports:**
- [Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/babelthuap-airport-ror)
- [Angaur](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/angaur-airport-1195)
- [Peleliu Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/peleliu-airport-25788)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** PGST 10 Prozent auf den Importwert seit 1.1.2023  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** Elektronische Abfertigung über ASYCUDA World (eingeführt 2024) durch die BCBP unter dem Finanzministerium.  
**Customs authority:** [Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP), Finanzministerium](https://bcbp.pw)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Pazifischer Inselstaat / importabhaengiger Nischenmarkt  
**Economic area:** Pacific Islands Forum / COFA (USA)  
**Logistics risk:** mittel  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** gering  
**Pharma/cold chain:** gering bis mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://bcbp.pw](https://bcbp.pw)
- [https://www.palaugov.pw/taxreform/pgst/](https://www.palaugov.pw/taxreform/pgst/)
- [https://bcbp.pw/?page_id=3173](https://bcbp.pw/?page_id=3173)
- [https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/daily_update_e/tariff_profiles/PW_E.pdf](https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/daily_update_e/tariff_profiles/PW_E.pdf)
- [https://www.palaugov.pw/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2020-Census-of-Population-and-Housing.pdf](https://www.palaugov.pw/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2020-Census-of-Population-and-Housing.pdf)
- [https://lca.logcluster.org/211-palau-port-koror](https://lca.logcluster.org/211-palau-port-koror)
- [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Tmetuchl_International_Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Tmetuchl_International_Airport)
- [https://www.state.gov/palau-24-315](https://www.state.gov/palau-24-315)

*Last verified: 2026-06-27*

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

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