# São Tomé and Príncipe (ST)

**Capital:** São Tomé  
**Currency:** São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN) (STN)  
**Population:** 235'536  
**Area:** 1'001 km²

> São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island state in the Gulf of Guinea whose foreign trade runs almost entirely by sea and air. Its main port is Ana Chaves near São Tomé; because of shallow depth, larger vessels anchor offshore and cargo is lightered or fed via regional hubs. A deep-water port at Fernão Dias is planned. Clearance runs through ASYCUDA World at the Direcção das Alfândegas; imports carry 15 percent VAT plus tiered duties. The leading export is cocoa, which still enters the EU duty-free under Everything But Arms during the post-LDC transition.

São Tomé and Príncipe (ISO code: ST) is an island state in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Central Africa, about 250 km from Gabon, made up of the two main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and several islets. It is a presidential democracy and a member of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and a signatory of the AfCFTA. The climate is tropical and humid, with a main rainy season from October to May and a short dry season (gravana) from June to September. The economy rests on agriculture (above all cocoa), fisheries, tourism and services, while fuel, food, machinery and consumer goods are almost entirely imported. Logistically the country relies on the port of Ana Chaves near São Tomé, the port of Santo António on Príncipe and São Tomé International Airport (TMS). Because of shallow depth at Ana Chaves, larger vessels anchor offshore and cargo is lightered or fed via regional hubs; a deep-water port at Fernão Dias is planned. Since 1 June 2023 imports carry 15 percent VAT (IVA) plus tiered customs duties, cleared electronically through ASYCUDA World. The currency is the dobra (STN), pegged to the euro since 2010 at 1 EUR = 24.5 STN. Having graduated from least developed country status in December 2024, the country keeps duty-free EU access under Everything But Arms during a transition until 2029.

**Top Import Partners:** PT, CN, AO, GA, FR

**Top Export Partners:** PT, NL, BE, FR, ES

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

**Top Export Goods:** Kakao, Kaffee, Palmöl, Fisch

**Key Airports:**
- [São Tomé International Airport (TMS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/sao-tome-international-airport-tms)
- [Principe Airport (PCP)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/principe-airport-pcp)
- [Roça Porto Alegre Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/roca-porto-alegre-airport-26801)
- [Santo Antonio Seaport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/santo-antonio-seaport-airport-29865)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** IVA 15 Prozent (Normalsatz seit 1. Juni 2023)  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** Elektronische Abfertigung über ASYCUDA World (Version 4.4 seit 1. Mai 2025) bei der Direcção das Alfândegas; Hafenbetrieb durch ENAPORT. Einfuhrzoll nach gestaffeltem Tarif (rund 5, 10 und 20 Prozent).  
**Customs authority:** [Direcção das Alfândegas (Zolldirektion im Finanzministerium)](financas.gov.st)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Inselstaat im Golf von Guinea; Kakao-Exporteur mit stark importabhaengiger Versorgung  
**Economic area:** CEEAC (ECCAS) / CPLP / AfCFTA  
**Logistics risk:** mittel  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** gering bis mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** gering

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://impostos.financas.gov.st/phocadownload/Impostos/IVA/MANUAL%20DO%20IVA_completo.pdf](https://impostos.financas.gov.st/phocadownload/Impostos/IVA/MANUAL%20DO%20IVA_completo.pdf)
- [https://asycuda.org/en/sao-tome-and-principe-leverages-asycuda-to-enhance-customs-efficiency-and-compliance/](https://asycuda.org/en/sao-tome-and-principe-leverages-asycuda-to-enhance-customs-efficiency-and-compliance/)
- [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/sao-tome-and-principe-import-tariffs](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/sao-tome-and-principe-import-tariffs)
- [https://www.enaport.st/PT/empresa/informacao-geral](https://www.enaport.st/PT/empresa/informacao-geral)
- [https://www.telanon.info/politica/2022/10/17/38875/consorcio-safebond-recebeu-o-porto-de-sao-tome-e-o-cais-do-principe-por-30-anos/](https://www.telanon.info/politica/2022/10/17/38875/consorcio-safebond-recebeu-o-porto-de-sao-tome-e-o-cais-do-principe-por-30-anos/)
- [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe_dobra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe_dobra)
- [https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/2024/sao-tome-and-principe-graduated-from-ldc-status/](https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/2024/sao-tome-and-principe-graduated-from-ldc-status/)
- [https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/development-and-sustainability/generalised-scheme-preferences_en](https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/development-and-sustainability/generalised-scheme-preferences_en)

*Last verified: 2026-07-01*

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