Logistics services in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in The Bahamas rely on seaports and airports spread across the islands. Containerized sea freight moves mainly through Nassau and Freeport, supported by other ports such as Clifton Pier, Matthew Town, Cockburn Town and South Riding Point.

There are 6 major ports and 4 oil terminals along about 3,542 km of coastline, with medium to very small facilities. Scheduled air services operate from 22 airports, including Lynden Pindling International Airport and Grand Bahama International Airport, handling both passenger and cargo flows.

Freight forwarders in The Bahamas should understand how to route cargo through Nassau and Freeport and coordinate with other key ports like Clifton Pier, Matthew Town, Cockburn Town and South Riding Point. Container throughput of about 1.5 million TEU and a liner connectivity index of 28.6 show regular but not dense services.

The overall logistics performance index is 2.7, matching the world median, while infrastructure and logistics competence are slightly below that. When choosing a customs broker, consider experience with Bahamas Customs & Excise Department, typical export partners such as the USA and Zimbabwe, and import flows mainly from the USA, Germany and China.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to The Bahamas centers on the ports of Nassau and Freeport, which have cargo pier depths of about 11 m. Nassau is classified as a medium port, while Freeport is small; other ports such as Matthew Town and Cockburn Town handle smaller volumes with shallower berths.

Container traffic is about 1.5 million TEU per year, ranking 58th of 168 worldwide and 12th of 38 in Latin America & Caribbean. The Bahamas has a liner shipping connectivity index of 28.6, with global carriers CMA CGM, MSC and Maersk maintaining offices in Nassau or Freeport for arranging FCL and LCL services.

Air freight in The Bahamas uses 22 airports with scheduled service, including Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport. Total air cargo traffic is about 18.6 million tonne-km.

The network of 54 airports across the country allows air options beyond the main hubs such as San Salvador International Airport, Andros Town Airport and Arthur's Town Airport. Air is relevant for higher-value imports and exports like aircraft parts, cars, plastics and shellfish that benefit from faster transit.

Rail and road freight in The Bahamas support port operations and inland distribution across the islands. Nassau port includes rail facilities, while other listed ports such as Freeport, Matthew Town and Cockburn Town do not have rail.

Domestic road links connect industrial and population centers to seaports and airports. With the country formed by islands and not sharing land borders, international freight access is arranged through maritime and air routes rather than cross-border trucking.

Customs clearance in The Bahamas is handled by the Bahamas Customs & Excise Department. The country has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 1974.

The average applied tariff is about 16.34 percent. The logistics performance index customs score is 2.7, slightly above the world median of 2.6. Typical export lead time for border compliance is 1 day and import lead time is 2 days. Shippers should prepare at minimum a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document when working with local brokers.