Logistics services in US Virgin Islands.

US Virgin Islands logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

US Virgin Islands trade moves by sea and air. Shippers use the six seaports, including Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay and Port Alucroix, to handle exports like refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches and rum.

Two airports with scheduled service, Cyril E. King Airport (STT) and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX), support time-sensitive and higher value cargo. Liner Shipping Connectivity Index is about 5, so planning sailings and transshipment options in advance matters for ocean moves.

When choosing freight forwarders in US Virgin Islands, consider their experience with the main ports of Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay and Port Alucroix. Connectivity is moderate, with an LSCI around 5, so a forwarder that understands feeder schedules and regional hubs in Latin America & Caribbean is helpful.

Look for partners familiar with trade lanes to Haiti, Guadeloupe, Malaysia, Martinique, Barbados and British Virgin Islands for exports, and to India, Algeria, South Korea, Argentina, Sweden and Brazil for imports. Comparing their performance against a logistics performance index customs score of 2.6 and infrastructure score of 2.6 helps assess likely bottlenecks.

Ocean freight uses six seaports, all small or very small. Key ports for containers and breakbulk include Frederiksted (cargo pier depth about 9.4 m), Charlotte Amalie (about 7.9 m), Cruz Bay (about 3.4 m), Christiansted and Limetree Bay (each about 4.9 m).

The country has a merchant marine of 2 ships, with a mix of 1 general cargo and 1 other vessel type. Liner connectivity, measured by the LSCI at about 5.23 in 2021, indicates limited direct calls, so FCL and LCL shipments often rely on regional transshipment.

Air freight in US Virgin Islands uses two airports with scheduled service: Cyril E. King Airport (STT) and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX). These airports handle higher value and time-sensitive cargo that complements seaborne trade.

Exports such as refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches and rum, and imports like refined and crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry and beer, may move by air when shipment size is small and transit time is critical, especially on lanes to or from distant partners such as Malaysia, India or South Korea.

There is no cross-border rail or road freight context given for US Virgin Islands. Domestic movements connect ports like Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted and Limetree Bay with the two main airports.

With coastlines of about 188 km and several small and very small ports, trucking is used to move cargo between terminals, oil terminals and inland facilities before export or after import.

Customs clearance in US Virgin Islands operates in a high income island economy with a population of about 104,000. The territory is not a WTO member. No national customs authority name is listed.

On the World Bank logistics performance index, the world median customs score is 2.6. Shippers can generally expect to use a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document for standard import and export procedures.