Logistics services in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Vanuatu rely on sea and air corridors serving a small island economy of about 335,000 people. International trade was about 78 million USD in exports and about 515 million USD in imports in 2025, so most flows are inbound.

Cargo moves mainly through the ports of Luganville and Port Vila, plus Forari Bay, with about 77,000 TEU handled in 2019. There are 3 airports with scheduled service, including Bauerfield International (VLI) and Santo Pekoa (SON), supporting about 30 million tonne-km of air cargo in 2023.

Freight forwarders in Vanuatu need to understand small-island shipping patterns and the country’s main ports at Luganville and Port Vila. Container throughput is modest, and the liner shipping connectivity index was about 7 in 2021, so routing options and transshipment points matter.

Vanuatu trades heavily with Thailand, Japan, Cote d'Ivoire, China, the USA, Australia, Angola, Fiji and New Zealand. When choosing a forwarder or customs broker, check their experience on these lanes, their handling of fish, wood, copra and refined petroleum flows, and how they manage customs where the global median LPI customs score is 2.6.

Container shipping to and from Vanuatu is channelled mainly through Luganville and Port Vila. Luganville is a small port and Port Vila is very small, both with cargo pier depths around 9.4 m, which limits ship size and keeps container volumes modest at about 77,000 TEU per year. The liner shipping connectivity index of 7.44 places Vanuatu around 121st of 169 globally, so services are present but not dense. Several global shipping lines maintain offices in Port Vila, including ANL, APL, CMA CGM and ONE, which can assist with both FCL and LCL bookings via regional transhipment ports.

Air freight in Vanuatu uses a network of 3 airports with scheduled service. The main gateways are Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), Santo Pekoa International Airport (SON) and Whitegrass Airport (TAH).

Air cargo volume was about 30 million tonne-km in 2023. Higher-value or time-sensitive shipments, such as certain fish products or components in trade with partners like Thailand, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand, are candidates for air. The wider aviation network includes 31 airports across the country, with scheduled flights concentrated at the main three.

There is no rail freight network in Vanuatu. Domestic freight moves by road between airports, ports, and production areas across multiple islands. The total coastline is about 2,528 km, and coastal shipping links the three main ports of Forari Bay, Luganville, and Port Vila. Road freight supports movements to the three scheduled-service airports, including Bauerfield International Airport, Santo Pekoa International Airport, and Whitegrass Airport.

Customs clearance in Vanuatu operates within a WTO member framework, and the country has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 2009-11-17. The average applied tariff was about 11.48 percent in 2022, so duty costs can be significant in landed pricing.

The global median Logistics Performance Index customs score is about 2.6, a useful benchmark when planning lead times and buffer stock. For most shipments, shippers should at minimum prepare a commercial invoice, packing list and transport document to support customs processing and compliance checks.