Logistics services in São Tomé and Príncipe.

São Tomé and Príncipe logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country with freight moving in and out mainly by sea and air. Two seaports, Santo Antonio and Sao Tome, handle ocean cargo with very small facilities and cargo pier depths of about 3.4 meters and 1.5 meters. Containerized volumes are modest at about 50,000 TEU a year, and liner shipping connectivity is low, with an LSCI score of 4.85. Two global carriers, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, have offices in Sao Tome, supporting ocean freight bookings.

The country has two airports with scheduled services, including São Tomé International Airport and Principe Airport. Air cargo volume is small at about 1 million tonne-km. Overall logistics performance is mid-range, with an LPI score of 2.65 and relatively better scores for timeliness and tracking than for infrastructure.

Freight forwarders in São Tomé and Príncipe work mainly through the ports of Santo Antonio and Sao Tome and the airports at São Tomé (TMS) and Principe (PCP). When choosing a partner, shippers can look at experience with very small island ports, shallow cargo pier depths of about 3.4 m and 1.5 m, and coordination with local road haulage.

The country’s Logistics Performance Index score was 2.65 in 2018, close to the world median of 2.7, but infrastructure and international shipments scores were below the median. Customs and tracking & tracing were slightly above the world median. Since most exports go to Pakistan, Germany, the Netherlands, France and the UAE, and imports come mainly from Portugal, Angola, Gabon, Japan and China, it helps if forwarders understand these trade lanes and AU bloc ties. Coordination with shipping lines like CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, which have offices on Sao Tome or Sao Tome Island, is also worth checking.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to São Tomé and Príncipe moves through two very small seaports: Santo Antonio (STSAA) and Sao Tome (STTMS). Both lack rail links and have shallow cargo pier depths of about 3.4 m and 1.5 m, which influences vessel size and cargo handling. In 2019 the country handled about 49,600 TEU, placing it 142nd of 168 worldwide and 29th of 33 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Liner connectivity is modest, with a liner shipping connectivity index of 4.85 in 2021, ranked 149th of 169 worldwide and 29th of 32 in the region. Shipping lines with offices in Sao Tome or on Sao Tome Island include CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd. These carriers can support both FCL and LCL arrangements, particularly for the main export goods of crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts, palm oil and aircraft parts, and imports such as ships, refined petroleum, rice, generators and cars.

São Tomé and Príncipe has two airports with scheduled service: São Tomé International Airport (TMS) and Principe Airport (PCP). Recorded air freight volume is about 1 million tonne-km, indicating limited but active use of air transport. For this trade mix of crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle and aircraft parts, rice, and machinery, air freight in São Tomé and Príncipe is most relevant for higher-value components and time-sensitive parts rather than bulk commodities.

Rail and road freight in São Tomé and Príncipe serves short inland moves between ports, airports and industrial or urban areas. There is no rail connection at the ports of Santo Antonio and Sao Tome, so all port drayage relies on road vehicles.

As an island country with a coastline of about 209 km and no land borders, there are no international road crossings or overland gateway ports. Domestic road transport therefore links seaports and airports such as São Tomé International Airport (TMS) and Principe Airport (PCP) with local shippers and consignees.

Customs clearance in São Tomé and Príncipe takes place in a country that has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 2009. The country is not a WTO member and is part of the AU bloc. Average applied tariffs stood at about 10 percent in 2019.

On the Logistics Performance Index in 2018, the customs score was 2.71 compared with a world median of 2.6. Overall LPI was 2.65, slightly below the world median of 2.7. For imports of goods such as ships, refined petroleum, rice, generators and cars, or exports including crude petroleum and cocoa beans, shippers should prepare a clear commercial invoice, packing list and transport document before starting customs procedures.