Logistics services in Greenland.

Greenland logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Greenland rely on sea and air links to move cargo in and out. Goods move through about 23 ports, including key locations such as Nuuk, Sisimiut, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Aasiaat and Illulissat (Jakobshavn). Several ports, including Sisimiut, Nuuk and Paamuit, have cargo pier depths between about 8 and 11 meters and are rail-served at the berth.

Shippers also use 9 airports with scheduled services, including Nuuk International Airport and Kangerlussuaq International Airport. The long coastline of about 44,100 km and 5 oil terminals support maritime activity. Merchandise trade is balanced, with exports of about 1,012 million USD and imports of about 1,022 million USD, moving mainly to and from Denmark, China, Sweden and other partners.

Freight forwarders in Greenland need to coordinate sea and air legs through a dispersed set of ports and airports. Containerized volumes are modest at about 6,100 TEU a year, so consolidations and flexible routings are common. Main seaports like Nuuk, Sisimiut, Paamuit, Qeqertarsuaq, Aasiaat and Illulissat, plus airports at Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq, Ilulissat and others, act as primary gateways.

Greenland’s liner shipping connectivity index stands at about 5.2, placing it between 143rd and 169th of 169 worldwide and around 30th to 35th of 35 in its region. When selecting freight forwarders in Greenland, shippers should look for experience with this lower connectivity and with key trade partners. Denmark accounts for 50 percent of exports and 58 percent of imports by value, while China, Sweden, Spain, Iceland, the UK, Japan, Germany and Canada also matter for routing choices. Greenland is not a WTO member, so a forwarder familiar with its independent trade arrangements is important.

Sea freight to and from Greenland uses a spread of about 23 ports along a 44,087 km coastline. Containerized trade is modest at about 6,100 TEU a year, and the liner shipping connectivity index of 5.21 indicates limited direct calls and reliance on transshipment. Key seaports for FCL and LCL shipping include Sisimiut (cargo pier depth about 11 m), Nuuk (about 9.4 m), Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq and Illulissat (Jakobshavn). Several of these ports combine cargo handling with rail access inside the port area, which can assist local moves and consolidation.

Air freight in Greenland is structured around 9 airports with scheduled services, out of a total of about 25 airports. Main scheduled airports include Nuuk International Airport (GOH), Kangerlussuaq International Airport (SFJ), Ilulissat Airport (JAV), Aasiaat Airport (JEG) and Kulusuk Airport (KUS). These airports connect remote communities and link Greenland by air to international hubs.

Air cargo is often used for higher value or time-sensitive parts of Greenland’s trade mix, complementing ocean shipments of fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships and precious stones. On the import side, refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products and furniture move largely by sea, while urgent consignments and smaller batches are better suited to air. With a population of about 57,800 and high-income status, demand is focused on reliable connections rather than very high volumes.

Several of Greenland’s small ports, including Sisimiut, Nuuk and Paamuit (Frederikshab), have rail listed at the port, which can be used for short-distance cargo movements and internal transfers. Other ports such as Qeqertarsuaq and Illulissat (Jakobshavn) operate without rail inside the port area. Overland connections to neighboring countries are not part of the international freight pattern, so most long-haul cargo flows are coordinated around coastal shipping and air services.

Greenland is a high income economy with external trade in goods of about 1.0 billion USD for exports and about 1.0 billion USD for imports in 2025. The territory is not a member of the WTO. No membership date is listed for the World Customs Organization. Logistics performance data for customs is only available through the world median, which has a customs score of 2.6 on the Logistics Performance Index.

For customs clearance in Greenland, shippers should expect to provide standard trade documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document. Export goods focus on fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships and precious stones, while imports are mainly refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products and furniture. Major trading partners include Denmark, China, the UK, Japan and Germany on the export side, and Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Iceland and Canada for imports.