Eritrea
ER · ERI
As of: 6/22/2026
Rotes-Meer-Hafenstandort / Rohstoffexporteur
Capital: Asmara
COMESASeeLuftStrasseImport VAT: Keine MehrwertsteuerCustoms: hochRisk: hochPharma/Cold Chain: niedrig bis mittelDangerous Goods: mittelE-Commerce: niedrig
Overview
Eritrea (ISO-Code: ER) is located at the Horn of Africa by the Red Sea, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Politically, the country is a unitary presidential republic with a centralized leadership and limited democratic structures. The climate is predominantly arid to semi-arid, with hot temperatures in coastal and desert regions, as well as cooler conditions in highland areas. Economically, Eritrea is heavily oriented towards mining, agriculture, and port operations, while international trade remains limited. Foreign trade primarily includes raw materials and food imports, while the country is highly dependent on imports of machinery, fuel, and consumer goods. Strategically located ports like Massawa ensure transit and logistics functions for regional trade in the Red Sea. The national currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN), which enables stable trade and financial transactions within the country. Eritrea plays a role as a regional logistics hub and benefits from its location on key shipping routes. Infrastructure, geographical location, and resource orientation shape the economic and logistical significance of the country.
Mentioned countries
Area117,600 km²
Population3,800,000
CurrencyEritrean Nakfa (ERN)
Economic areaCOMESA
ContinentAfrica
ReligionsChristentum, Islam
ISO codeER / ERI
Customs & Import/Export
Customs authority
Eritrean Customs (Customs and Excise Division, Finanzministerium)
Import system
Eritrea nutzt seit 2024 ASYCUDA World (UNCTAD) mit Single-Window-Ansatz; löste das papierbasierte Altsystem von 2007 ab. Abwicklung über die Customs and Excise Division des Finanzministeriums.
Export system
Exportabfertigung ebenfalls über ASYCUDA World; wichtigste Ausfuhren Gold, Mineralien sowie Agrar- und Tierprodukte über die Häfen Massawa und Assab.
Import VAT
- Keine Mehrwertsteuer
- stattdessen Verkaufssteuer (Sales and Excise Tax Regulation 64/1994): 5 Prozent auf bestimmte Güter, 10 Prozent auf gewisse Dienste, 12 Prozent auf übrige Güter
- Importbasis CIF plus Zoll und Verbrauchssteuer.
Customs complexityhoch
Import documents
- Handelsrechnung
- Packliste
- Konnossement / Luftfrachtbrief
- Einfuhrlizenz
- Ursprungszeugnis
Export documents
- Handelsrechnung
- Packliste
- Konnossement / Luftfrachtbrief
- Ausfuhrlizenz
- Ursprungszeugnis (ggf. COMESA)
Origin proofs / FTA
Eritrea ist COMESA-Mitglied, hat die COMESA-Freihandelszone aber noch nicht voll umgesetzt (Stand 2023). Kein Abkommen mit EU oder EFTA; AfCFTA nicht unterzeichnet.
Restricted & prohibited goods
Kontrollen v.a. für Waffen, Munition, Suchtmittel und Devisen. Strenge Devisenkontrollen; der Nakfa ist nicht frei konvertierbar und unterliegt Aus-/Einfuhrbeschränkungen.
Export controls & sanctions
Aktuell keine UN- oder EU-Sanktionen. UN-Waffenembargo im Nov. 2018 (Resolution 2444) aufgehoben, EU-Embargo im Dez. 2018. Zuvor Embargo seit 2009 (Resolution 1907).
Without warranty — always verify with freight forwarder/customs agent and official authorities.
Customs / Import / Export (Africa) — General process
Quick operational overview for international shipments to Africa. Documentation, pre-clearance and local clearance steps can vary a lot by destination.
Documents (typical)
Process (simplified)
- Prepare export (docs, HS code, origin)
- Import clearance in destination country (declaration, possible checks)
- Release and delivery; duties/taxes according to classification and value
Important: Requirements depend on goods, origin, Incoterms, value, and consignee. When in doubt, confirm with your broker/forwarder and official sources.
Official links
Note: regional/general sources. Country-specific authority links will be added iteratively.
Trade
Freight Infrastructure & Transport Network
Cargo airports
- Asmara International Airport (ASM)
- Massawa International Airport (MWA)
- Assab International Airport (ASA)
Seaports / access ports
- Massawa (Hauptseehafen, Containerumschlag)
- Assab (Massengut, Erdölprodukte)
Road corridors & border crossings
- Massawa - Asmara
- Asmara - Keren - Teseney (Richtung Sudan)
- Assab - Hinterland
Top trade lanes
- Eritrea - China
- Eritrea - Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
- Eritrea - Saudi-Arabien
- Eritrea - Indien
Risk & Operational Notes
Logistics riskhoch
Customs delay riskmittel bis hoch
Port congestion riskmittel
Risk notes
Eingeschränkte Infrastruktur, geringe Handelsvolumina, Devisenknappheit und bürokratische Abfertigung erhöhen das Logistikrisiko. Begrenzte Verfügbarkeit internationaler Spediteure und Liniendienste.
Seasonal & weather risks
Arides bis semiarides Klima; sehr heisse Küstenregion am Roten Meer mit Hitzebelastung für temperaturempfindliche Güter. Vereinzelt Regenzeit im Hochland (Juni bis September).
Current logistics notes
Eritrea modernisiert die Zollabwicklung mit ASYCUDA World (Einführung 2024). Massawa und Assab sind die zentralen See-Gateways; der Aussenhandel bleibt volumenmässig begrenzt.
As of: 2026-06-22
Operational notes – no claim to completeness. Verify with your freight forwarder and official sources.
Airports in this country
Asmara International Airport
ASM · Asmara
Assab International Airport
ASA · Assab
Massawa International Airport
MSW · Massawa
Agordat Airport
Agordat
Barentu Airport
Barentu
Dahlak Central Airfield
Dhu Bellu
Dahlak South Airfield
Dahlak Kebir
Dahlak West Airfield
Melill
Keren Airfield
Keren
Omhajer Airport
Omhajer
Tessenei Airport
TES · Tessenei
Latest News
More content for this country
As content becomes available, additional information and articles will automatically appear here.
Sources & Data Confidence
mittelVerified: 2026-06-22
Official sources
- undp.org
- unctad.org
- sipri.org
- pwc.co.za
Source references without warranty. For legal/tax decisions consult official authorities.
FAQ
Which ports are important for importing into Eritrea?
The two central seaports are Massawa (mainly containers) and Assab (bulk and petroleum products). Both are on the Red Sea and serve the country's foreign trade.
Does Eritrea have a value added tax?
No. Eritrea levies no VAT but a sales tax under the Sales and Excise Tax Regulation 64/1994: 5 percent on certain goods, 10 percent on certain services and 12 percent on other goods.
Are there sanctions against Eritrea?
There are currently no UN or EU sanctions. The UN arms embargo was lifted in November 2018 by Resolution 2444 and the EU embargo in December 2018.
Which customs system does Eritrea use?
In 2024 Eritrea introduced UNCTAD's ASYCUDA World system, replacing a paper-based legacy system from 2007. It uses a single-window approach.
What currency is used in Eritrea?
The national currency is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN). It is not freely convertible and is subject to strict foreign-exchange controls, which complicates international payments.
Is Eritrea landlocked?
No. Eritrea lies in the Horn of Africa with a long Red Sea coastline and borders Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
What are Eritrea's main traded goods?
Exports are mainly gold, minerals and agricultural and animal products. Imports are predominantly machinery, vehicles, petroleum products and food.
Which trade partners are important for Eritrea?
Which logistics terms are especially relevant for Eritrea?
For international shipments, these terms are a good quick start:
Last updated: