USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with France and French Guiana

French Guiana lies across the Marowijne (Maroni), but it is part of the European Union: what you take to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is an export to the EU. In 2025 France (including French Guiana) bought USD 29 million from Suriname, mainly fuel and rice. The border itself is still an open political file.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 28.8 million
French customs via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 11.7 million
French customs via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
EU EPA
plus the local octroi de mer
On this page (12)
In short
  • French Guiana is EU territory: EU customs, EU product rules and an EUR.1 for the zero tariff.
  • On top of the EU tariff, French Guiana charges the octroi de mer, set by the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane.
  • The 2021 border protocol has not been ratified; the National Assembly heard traditional authorities in 2025 and 2026.
  • French language and French labels are a must.

Trade in figures

France has reported French Guiana as part of France since 1997. According to those figures (UN Comtrade), France bought USD 28.8 million from Suriname in 2025: USD 19.7 million of fuel and oil products, USD 3.3 million of cereals (rice) and smaller amounts of stone, timber and fish. Most of this almost certainly goes to French Guiana. In 2023 the figures also included USD 37.5 million of gold. France supplied USD 11.7 million to Suriname in 2025, in 2024 mainly drinks (USD 5.4 million), plastics and machinery.

Much trade between Albina and Saint-Laurent crosses the river informally and does not appear in the statistics.

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

France and French Guiana fall under the EPA between the EU and CARIFORUM: goods of Surinamese origin enter the EU duty and quota free with an EUR.1 or an origin declaration. French Guiana also charges the octroi de mer, an old French tax on goods entering the overseas territories. The territorial government (CTG) decides which products are taxed and at what rate, within limits set by the EU; products that are also made locally are often taxed more heavily. Ask your buyer or French Guiana customs for the rate for your product.

There is a political debate about the border. In 2021 Suriname and France signed a protocol that fixes the border along the Marowijne and Lawa rivers and also covers joint river management. The approval bill has been before the National Assembly since December 2021. A committee of the Assembly held a hearing with indigenous communities on 6 November 2025, in late July 2026 Speaker Adhin postponed the debate for krutu meetings with traditional authorities, and in early August 2026 coalition party ABOP announced it would vote against.

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

Market access in practice

All EU rules apply in French Guiana: food safety, CE marking for appliances, and labels in French. Buyers are wholesalers and supermarkets in Cayenne, Kourou and Saint-Laurent, construction firms and the government. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and western French Guiana are growing fast, with strong demand for building materials, food and services. Prices and payments are in euros.

Tourism is the other side: residents of French Guiana make short trips to Albina and Paramaribo. In 2025 Surinamese businesses met the CTG's economic and social advisory council on tourism and border management, and on the tourist charge which, in their view, deters families. See the tourism business guide.

Transport and travel

Between Albina and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni you cross the Marowijne by ferry or dugout boat; from there a road runs to Cayenne. Goods clear Surinamese customs in Albina and French customs in Saint-Laurent. There were no direct scheduled flights between Paramaribo and Cayenne in the October 2026 departure list. To France itself you usually travel via Amsterdam or via Cayenne.

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

France has had an embassy in Paramaribo since 1991. Suriname has an embassy in Paris and consulates general in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Surinamese travellers need a visa for French Guiana; check the conditions with the French embassy.

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 French Guiana the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de la Guyane is the chamber of commerce. The French embassy regularly organises meetings with French companies, for example in November 2024 with a delegation of French energy companies. TotalEnergies is the operator of offshore Block 58 (GranMorgu).

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

Opportunities

  • Fuel, rice, building materials and fresh produce for western French Guiana, if EU-compliant and labelled in French.
  • Tourism and day trips for visitors from French Guiana: Albina, Galibi, Paramaribo.
  • Supplying French companies in the oil and gas sector.

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

  • Selling informally across the river risks seizure; send commercial shipments through customs.
  • The octroi de mer can wipe out your price advantage: include it in your calculation.
  • The border debate and crime along the river can lead to stricter controls.

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.