Logistics services in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Trinidad and Tobago rely on deep-sea ports and international airports. Containers and breakbulk cargo move mainly through Port of Spain and Point Lisas, supported by several smaller ports including Galeota Point Terminal and Pointe-a-Pierre.

Goods enter and leave by sea using liner services from carriers such as ZIM, CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk and ONE. Air freight moves through Piarco International Airport (POS) and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB). Domestic distribution from these gateways uses the road network across about 362 km of coastline.

Logistics services connect exports like natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum and iron reductions with partners such as the USA, China, Guyana, Chile and the Netherlands. Imports including railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore and excavation machinery are handled across the same sea and air gateways.

Freight forwarders in Trinidad and Tobago need solid experience with Port of Spain and the Point Lisas ports, since these are key container and industrial gateways. Shippers should look for agents who work regularly with lines such as ZIM, CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk and ONE, which all have offices in the country.

The logistics performance index overall score is 2.5, with customs at 2.2 and infrastructure and logistics services at 2.4, all below the world median scores. This suggests checking how a forwarder manages customs processes, timing and tracking, given average export and import times of about 7 days. Forwarders familiar with major trade partners such as the USA, China and Guyana can better coordinate routings and documentation for these flows.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to Trinidad and Tobago moves mainly through Port of Spain and the Point Lisas ports, which handle container and industrial cargo. The country’s ports handle about 545,000 TEU a year, ranking 84th of 168 worldwide, with a liner shipping connectivity index of 15.09. Cargo pier depths at Port of Spain and Point Lisas are around 11 m, suitable for regular container vessels.

Several global shipping lines have offices locally, including ZIM, CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk and ONE. Observed FCL rates for a 40HC container to Port-of-Spain on 28 October 2026 include Shanghai to Port-of-Spain at a median of about 11,400 USD, Ningbo to Port-of-Spain at about 10,900 USD, and Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva) to Port-of-Spain at about 12,400 USD. For Point Lisas, Shanghai and Ningbo to Point Lisas show medians of about 10,200 USD and 10,100 USD respectively on the same date.

Air freight in Trinidad and Tobago is handled mainly through Piarco International Airport (POS) and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB), which both have scheduled services. Total airports number 3, providing additional aviation infrastructure.

Air cargo traffic is about 46 million tonne-km per year, ranking 76th of 184 worldwide and 9th of 28 in the region. This mode suits high-value, time-sensitive segments of the trade mix, such as selected alcohols, machinery parts or automotive components, while bulk exports like natural gas, ammonia and crude petroleum typically move by sea.

The Logistics Performance Index score for international shipments and timeliness, at 2.5 and 2.9 respectively, shapes how shippers use air freight to offset transit and reliability constraints on some lanes.

Trinidad and Tobago is a coastal country in the Latin America & Caribbean region, with Port-of-Spain as its capital. Merchant shipping counts about 100 vessels, mainly classified as other types, with 1 general cargo ship. The coastline is about 362 km long, supporting several port locations used as road freight gateways.

Key ports linked to inland road freight include Port of Spain, Point Lisas Industrial Port, Point Lisas Port, Pointe-a-Pierre and Galeota Point Terminal. Some major ports such as Port Of Spain, Point Lisas Industrial Port and Pointe a Pierre are noted as having rail present inside the port area, which can influence on-dock cargo handling arrangements.

Customs clearance in Trinidad and Tobago operates under a framework influenced by membership in the World Customs Organization since 1973 and the World Trade Organization. The average applied tariff is about 7.51 percent, shaping landed cost calculations for importers.

The Logistics Performance Index customs score is 2.2, compared with a world median of 2.6, indicating relatively heavier customs frictions than many peers. Overall LPI is 2.5 against a world median of 2.7. Border compliance times for both exports and imports are about 7 days. For each shipment, shippers should ensure accurate commercial invoices, packing lists and transport documents to limit clearance delays.