USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with Barbados

Barbados is a small, prosperous CARICOM market that imports almost all of its food. In 2025 Barbados bought USD 6 million from Suriname, mainly fish. Surinam Airways flies there direct.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 6.1 million
Barbados figures via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 2.6 million
Barbados figures via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
CARICOM
no duty on goods of CARICOM origin
On this page (12)
In short
  • CARICOM: no duty with a certificate of origin and a CARICOM invoice.
  • Fish is the main Surinamese product in Barbados.
  • Since 1 October 2025 Barbados takes part in full free movement of people with three other countries; Suriname does not.

Trade in figures

According to Barbados figures (UN Comtrade), Barbados bought USD 6.1 million from Suriname in 2025 and supplied USD 2.6 million. In 2024, USD 4.6 million of the imports from Suriname was fish; the rest included fruit, dyes, meat and flour products. In 2022 imports from Suriname were higher (USD 18.8 million).

Amounts in US dollars. Because Suriname does not report most of its exports (gold) by country, we use the partner country's figures: its imports from Suriname are Suriname's exports, its exports to Suriname are Suriname's imports. Imports usually include freight and insurance (CIF) and exports do not (FOB), so the two sides always differ somewhat.

Trade agreements and duties

Barbados and Suriname are both members of CARICOM and the CSME. Goods of CARICOM origin enter duty free with a certificate of origin and CARICOM invoice. Since 1 October 2025 full free movement of people applies between Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname does not take part. Surinamese who want to work in Barbados still need a CARICOM Skills Certificate or a work permit.

How rules of origin, certificates and preferential rates work is explained in Trade agreements and market access.

Market access in practice

Barbados has a lot of tourism and a high income: hotels, restaurants and supermarkets want consistent quality, small regular deliveries and English labels. Fish and meat need veterinary certificates, fruit and vegetables a phytosanitary certificate. Invest Barbados is Barbados' investment and export agency.

Transport and travel

Surinam Airways flies direct between Paramaribo and Barbados (Grantley Adams). Sea freight usually goes via transhipment in Trinidad or other Caribbean ports; per unit this is expensive for small volumes.

Flights and sailing schedules change often. Check them with the airline or your forwarder before you plan. Shipping and logistics · Business trip to Suriname

Embassies and consulates

Suriname and Barbados have no embassies in each other's capitals. Contact runs through the foreign ministries and through CARICOM.

Addresses and opening hours of Suriname's missions are on the official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: embassies.gov.sr.

Chambers, networks and support

In Barbados the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Invest Barbados are the usual entry points. Regional trade fairs and training run through the Caribbean Export Development Agency, which is based in Barbados.

In Suriname, SITA (export and investment promotion), the KKF and EZOTI can help. Business organisations are listed in Business associations.

Opportunities

  • Fish and seafood for hotels and restaurants.
  • Rice, fruit and processed farm products of CARICOM origin.
  • Partnering with Barbadian service providers (finance, tourism, training).

These are possibilities that fit the trade between the two countries, not a promise of customers. Test an idea first with conversations, samples and numbers. Market research

Watch out for

  • Small market: freight per kilo is high; combine shipments or work with a regular buyer.
  • Strict food safety checks in the tourism sector.

How to start

  1. Test the market. Look at the figures above to see what is already traded, and talk to at least three buyers or suppliers. Market research
  2. Determine the HS code and the tariff. Look up the import duty in the destination country, and whether you can get a preference. Trade agreements and market access
  3. Meet the requirements. Certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate, label and any registration of your business. Exporting from Suriname
  4. Agree delivery and payment. Choose an Incoterm, a payment method (prepayment, L/C) and the currency. Accepting payments
  5. Work out the total cost. Freight, insurance, duties and margin. Price and markup · Import cost calculator
  6. Start with a trial shipment and keep all documents per shipment. Proforma invoice

Guides that help next

Other countries

Sources

Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice. Have tariffs and requirements confirmed per shipment.