USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with Curaçao and Aruba

Curaçao and Aruba are close in language and culture, but they are small markets with their own customs and currency. Recorded trade is small: a few million dollars a year. There are new contacts: an Aruban trade mission in 2024 and a cooperation between SITA and Curaçao's investment agency CINEX in 2025.

Exports from Suriname (2023)
USD 2.1 million
Surinamese figures (ABS) via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2023)
USD 2.5 million
Surinamese figures (ABS) via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
No agreement
each island has its own customs
On this page (12)
In short
  • Curaçao and Aruba are not in the EU and not full CARICOM members: no preferential rate for Surinamese goods.
  • Surinam Airways flies direct to Curaçao and Aruba.
  • Currency: Caribbean guilder (XCG) in Curaçao, Aruban florin (AWG) in Aruba.
  • Suriname has a consulate general in Willemstad.

Trade in figures

Curaçao and Aruba do not report recent figures to UN Comtrade. According to Surinamese figures for 2023, Suriname exported USD 1.6 million to Aruba (tobacco and drinks) and USD 0.5 million to Curaçao, and imported USD 2.3 million from Curaçao and USD 0.2 million from Aruba. Services (tourism, aviation, financial services) and informal trade by travellers are not included.

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

Curaçao and Aruba are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not part of the EU: they have Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) status. The EU EPA therefore does not apply there. They are also not full members of CARICOM. As far as we know there is no trade agreement giving Surinamese goods a preferential rate: you pay the island's normal import duty.

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

Market access in practice

Both islands import almost all their food, much of it from the US and the Netherlands. Dutch is understood, but shops and restaurants often work in Papiamentu, English or Spanish. Each island has its own rules on labels, food safety and import permits; ask your buyer or the island's customs. Buyers are supermarkets, wholesalers, hotels and restaurants.

Transport and travel

Surinam Airways flies direct from Paramaribo to Curaçao (Hato) and Aruba (Queen Beatrix). Sea freight usually involves transhipment. During the Aruban trade mission of June 2024 a cargo flight between Aruba and Suriname was discussed.

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 has a consulate general in Willemstad (Curaçao). Curaçao and Aruba have no embassy of their own in Paramaribo; foreign affairs are a Kingdom matter.

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

On 6 February 2025 SITA and CINEX, Curaçao's trade and investment agency, signed an MoU on trade and investment cooperation; the Suriname Energy Chamber also signed with CINEX. From 24 to 28 June 2024 the Aruba Chamber of Commerce brought a trade mission of 13 Aruban companies to Suriname (engineering, food, cigars, agricultural imports, medical devices and ICT), with nearly a hundred meetings with Surinamese companies.

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

Opportunities

  • Fresh vegetables, fruit and fish for islands that import almost everything, if your cold chain and certificates are in order.
  • Tourism: combined trips and the cruise sector; Curaçao has a lot of experience with cruise tourism.
  • Financial and legal service providers in Curaçao as partners for regional structures.

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

  • Each island is a separate market with its own customs, currency and rules.
  • Small volumes and expensive freight: test with air freight or a shared container.

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.