Country profile
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
SX · SXMAs of: 6/29/2026Caribbean transshipment and transit hub; tourism and supply logistics
Sint Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and an OCT of the EU in the northern Caribbean. It operates as a de facto free port: customs does not levy general import duties, only an excise on unleaded petrol. There is no VAT; a 5 percent turnover tax (TOT) applies to domestic sales, not to imports. The logistics assets are the Pointe Blanche port (freight and cruise) and the Princess Juliana hub airport (SXM). Since 2025, the Caribbean guilder (XCG) has been in circulation, while the US dollar remains very widely used.
Overview
Sint Maarten (ISO code SX) lies in the northern Caribbean on the island of Saint Martin, which it shares with France, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic. Since 10 October 2010 it has been an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its own government and parliament; in relation to the EU it has the status of an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT). The climate is tropical-maritime with consistently high temperatures and humidity, a rainy season from October to December and a hurricane season from June to November. The economy is driven by tourism, financial services, trade and aviation. For customs and tax purposes the country operates as a de facto free port: Customs Sint Maarten is primarily a border-protection and law-enforcement agency and levies no general import duties, only an excise on unleaded gasoline. There is no VAT; instead a 5 percent turnover tax (TOT) is levied on domestic business supplies, but not on imports. Its key logistics nodes are Port St. Maarten at Pointe Blanche (cargo and cruise terminal) and Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), making Sint Maarten a transshipment and transit point for the northern Lesser Antilles. Since 31 March 2025 the Caribbean guilder (XCG) has been the national currency, pegged to the US dollar (1 USD = 1.79 XCG), with the US dollar widely used in daily life.
Mentioned countries
Glossary terms
Customs & Import/Export
Customs authority
Customs Department Sint Maarten (Douane, Ministerie van Justitie)Import system
Free port principle: Customs is primarily a border protection and law enforcement authority, NOT general import duties. The only levy collected by Customs is the excise duty on unleaded petrol.
Export system
No export duties. Customs controls the export and transit of goods at the port, airport and marinas; export control mainly covers weapons, drugs and protected species (CITES).
Import VAT
- No VAT. The main indirect tax is the TOT (Belasting op Bedrijfsomzetten) at 5 percent, levied only on domestic turnover of businesses, NOT on imports.
Import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill (B/L or AWB)
- Packing list
- Import declaration Customs Sint Maarten
- If applicable: certificate of origin / health certificate
Export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill (B/L or AWB)
- Packing list
- If applicable: EUR.1 / origin declaration (OCT)
- If applicable: CITES or export permit
Origin proofs / FTA
As an EU OCT, it has its own trade policy; goods of OCT origin receive duty-free and quota-free EU market access under the EU-OCT Association Decision (proof of origin EUR.1 / origin declaration).
Restricted & prohibited goods
Subject to licence or prohibition: weapons and ammunition, narcotics, protected species (CITES), certain foodstuffs, animals and plants. Otherwise consumer goods are largely freely importable.
Export controls & sanctions
Implementation of UN and EU sanctions under Art. 25 of the UN Charter and Art. 3 of the Kingdom Statute (Sanctielandsverordening); enforcement among others via FIU Sint Maarten. No autonomous national sanctions.
Without warranty — always verify with freight forwarder/customs agent and official authorities.
Customs / Import / Export (Rest) — General process
Quick operational overview for international shipments. Depending on the destination (Oceania, Middle East, or other regions), steps, pre-filings and documents may differ.
Documents (typical)
- Commercial invoice (description, value, Incoterms)
- Packing list (weights, dimensions, packages)
- HS code / tariff classification
- Proof of origin / preference docs (where relevant)
- Transport documents (AWB / Bill of Lading) depending on mode
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
Transport relevance
Cargo airports
- Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), Frachtterminal (Swissport)
Seaports / access ports
- Port St. Maarten - A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities, Pointe Blanche (Great Bay)
Road corridors & border crossings
- Philipsburg - Simpson Bay - Cole Bay (ring road)
- Crossing to the French side of the island (Saint-Martin)
Top trade lanes
- USA - Sint Maarten
- Netherlands/EU - Sint Maarten
- Regional Caribbean feeder services
Risk & Operational Notes
Risk notes
High import dependence of a small island economy; island shared with the French side (Saint-Martin). Exposure to hurricanes (Irma in 2017 caused severe damage to the port and airport).
Seasonal & weather risks
Atlantic hurricane season June to November with risk of severe storms; rainy season October to December. Tropical maritime climate, warm and humid all year round.
Current logistics notes
Since 31. March 2025 the new currency is the Caribbean guilder (XCG), pegged to USD 1 = 1,79; the ANG has been withdrawn from circulation since 1. July 2025. Tax reform planned: the TOT is to be partly replaced by an import levy.
As of: 2026-06-29
Operational notes – no claim to completeness. Verify with your freight forwarder and official sources.
Airports in this country
Latest News
No news for this country yet.
View all news →Sources & Data Confidence
Official sources
- sintmaartengov.org
- stats.sintmaartengov.org
- centralbank.cw
Source references without warranty. For legal/tax decisions consult official authorities.
FAQ
Do I have to pay import duties when importing into Sint Maarten?
No, Sint Maarten is de facto a free port. Customs Sint Maarten does not levy general import duties; the only levy collected by the customs authority is an excise duty on unleaded petrol.
Is there a value added tax (VAT) in Sint Maarten?
No. There is no VAT. Instead, the TOT (Belasting op Bedrijfsomzetten) turnover tax at 5 percent applies, only on domestic turnover of businesses, not on imports.
What currency is used in Sint Maarten?
Since 31. March 2025, the Caribbean guilder (XCG), pegged to the US dollar (USD 1 = 1,79 XCG). The former Antillean guilder (ANG) has been withdrawn from circulation since 1. July 2025; the US dollar is widely accepted in daily life.
Which authority is responsible for customs?
The Customs Department Sint Maarten (Douane) under the Ministry of Justice. It is primarily a border protection and law enforcement authority and controls the movement of goods and persons at the port, airport and marinas.
Through which hubs does freight reach Sint Maarten?
Sea freight runs through Port St. Maarten (A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities, Pointe Blanche); air freight runs through the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), which has its own cargo terminal. There is no railway.
What EU status does Sint Maarten have?
Sint Maarten is an overseas country and territory (OCT) of the EU, but it does not belong to the EU customs territory. It has its own trade policy; goods of OCT origin receive duty-free EU market access.
Are there sanctions or export controls to consider?
Sint Maarten has no autonomous sanctions but implements UN and EU sanctions via Article 25 of the UN Charter and Article 3 of the Kingdom Statute (Sanctielandsverordening), enforced among others through the FIU Sint Maarten.
What are the main logistics risks for Sint Maarten?
High import dependence of a small island economy and exposure to Atlantic hurricanes (June to November); Hurricane Irma in 2017 severely damaged the port and airport. Customs and port congestion risks are otherwise low to moderate.
Which trade partners are important for Sint Maarten (Dutch part)?
Which logistics terms are especially relevant for Sint Maarten (Dutch part)?
For international shipments, these terms are a good quick start:
Next steps
Matching tools and partners