Logistics services in Suriname.

Suriname logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Suriname trades about 2.7 billion USD in goods exports and about 2.2 billion USD in goods imports, so shippers can arrange both import and export flows by sea and air. Containers and breakbulk move through 4 seaports, including Paramaribo, Paranam, Moengo and Nieuw Nickerie, along a coastline of about 386 km. International flights use Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), which handles scheduled services and some air cargo.

Ocean carriers such as APL, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk and ONE have offices in Paramaribo, giving access to regional and long-haul liner networks. Trade is concentrated in goods like gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood and tobacco on the export side, and refined petroleum, ships, excavation machinery, trucks and tobacco on the import side. Shippers can use general cargo and tanker services supported by a merchant fleet of 13 vessels with a mix of general cargo, oil tankers and other ships.

When choosing freight forwarders in Suriname, consider their experience with the main ports of Paramaribo, Paranam, Moengo and Nieuw Nickerie, as well as Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM). Suriname’s container throughput is about 106,000 TEU, and its liner shipping connectivity index is 8.9, so forwarders should be able to combine feeder services with regional hubs using carriers like Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, APL and ONE.

Suriname exports mainly to Switzerland, the UAE, Guyana, the USA and France, and imports mainly from the USA, China, the Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. A forwarder with established routings and customs broker partners on these corridors can reduce delays. Logistics performance is around the world median on customs, infrastructure, tracking and timeliness, so ask about their processes for monitoring shipments and resolving border issues. As Suriname is a WTO member, select partners familiar with tariff rules and formalities under that framework.

Ocean freight is the primary mode for FCL and LCL shipping from and to Suriname, moving through four seaports. Paramaribo (SRPBM) is the main small port, supplemented by Paranam (SRPRM), Moengo (SRMOJ) and Nieuw Nickerie (SRICK). Together they support about 106,000 TEU of container traffic in 2024. Cargo pier depths range from about 4.5 m at Nieuw Nickerie to about 12.5 m at Paranam, which affects vessel size and draft planning.

Suriname ranks 121st of 168 countries worldwide for container traffic and 23rd of 38 in Latin America & Caribbean. Its liner shipping connectivity index of 8.9 in 2021 places it 103rd of 169 globally and 19th of 40 in the region. Major shipping lines with offices in Paramaribo include APL, CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk and ONE, which can arrange both FCL and consolidated LCL movements through regional transshipment hubs. Some port locations such as Paramaribo and Paranam also have rail links inside the port area.

Suriname handles scheduled international traffic through Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM). Recorded air freight volume reached about 24 million tonne-km in 2023, a modest figure against total trade of about 2.7 billion USD in exports and 2.2 billion USD in imports in 2025. Air works best for high-value or time-sensitive cargo that complements bulk seaborne trade, such as gold exports, refined petroleum products, and machinery or vehicle parts on the import side.

Suriname has land borders with Brazil, French Guiana and Guyana, providing options for cross-border road freight. These borders cover about 515 km with Brazil, 556 km with French Guiana and 836 km with Guyana.

Within ports, some locations such as Paramaribo and Paranam have rail connections at the cargo pier, while Moengo and Nieuw Nickerie do not. Rail use is therefore closely tied to port operations. Road freight links inland production areas with the four maritime ports and with neighbouring countries for regional distribution.

Suriname is a member of the WTO and has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 2018-11-26. The average applied tariff was about 7.8 percent in 2022, so shippers should pay attention to duty costs in addition to freight and handling. Customs clearance relies on standard documents such as the commercial invoice, packing list and transport document.

On customs performance, the world median Logistics Performance Index customs score is 2.6, and overall logistics and tracking scores are around 2.7 to 2.8. Timeliness is stronger at about 3.1 compared with other components. For clearance in Suriname, work with brokers familiar with these conditions, main trade partners such as the USA, China, the Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, and the export mix including gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood and tobacco.