USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with the Netherlands

For Surinamese businesses the Netherlands is mainly a supplier: in 2025 USD 286 million worth of goods came from the Netherlands, while the Netherlands bought only USD 16 million from Suriname. The shared language, the diaspora and the daily flights make it the easiest European market to test.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 15.6 million
CBS via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 286.2 million
CBS via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
EU EPA
duty and quota free for Surinamese goods
On this page (13)
In short
  • Surinamese goods enter the EU duty and quota free under the EPA, with an EUR.1 or origin declaration.
  • A zero tariff is not free access: food, plants, fish and timber must meet EU rules.
  • Imports from the Netherlands are mainly machinery, dairy, vehicles, electrical goods, medicines and drinks.
  • Help: PUM (Dutch experts), CBI market studies, RVO, VSB and VNO-NCW, and the embassies in The Hague and Paramaribo.

Trade in figures

According to the Dutch statistics office CBS (via UN Comtrade), the Netherlands exported USD 286.2 million to Suriname in 2025, slightly more than in 2024 (USD 242.3 million). The largest items were machinery (USD 55.9 million), dairy (USD 20.8 million), vehicles (USD 15.8 million), electrical equipment (USD 15.2 million) and drinks (USD 12.8 million). Part of this is re-export: goods from other countries that pass through Rotterdam.

In the other direction the Netherlands bought USD 15.6 million from Suriname in 2025: mainly fish (USD 5.8 million), vegetables (USD 2.1 million), prepared foods such as sauces and spices (USD 2.0 million) and timber (USD 1.8 million). That is small compared with Suriname's exports to Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, where the gold goes.

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

The Netherlands falls under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the CARIFORUM countries. Goods of Surinamese origin enter the EU without duty or quota, provided you send an EUR.1 certificate from Customs or (up to EUR 6,000 per shipment) an origin declaration on the invoice. The Netherlands and Suriname also signed an investment protection agreement in 2005. In the other direction, imports from the Netherlands pay the normal Surinamese import duty.

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

Market access in practice

Food and farm products must meet EU rules: maximum pesticide residues, hygiene (HACCP), labels in Dutch with allergens and nutrition information, and a phytosanitary or health certificate. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) checks shipments on arrival; rejected shipments are destroyed or returned. Fish can only enter the EU from establishments on the EU list. Timber must meet the EU rules against illegal logging and deforestation.

Most Surinamese products reach consumers through Surinamese and Asian wholesalers and shops in Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam. For mainstream supermarkets you need volume, consistent quality and often a certificate such as GLOBALG.A.P. or BRC. RVO publishes the requirements per product.

Transport and travel

KLM and Surinam Airways fly direct between Paramaribo (Zanderij) and Amsterdam. For small shipments and fresh produce, air freight on those flights is the usual channel. Containers go by liner service between Northern Europe (Rotterdam, Antwerp) and Paramaribo; ask your forwarder for transit time, transhipment and rates. For fresh produce, work out the cold chain from farm to customer before you quote a price.

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 an embassy in The Hague and a consulate general in Amsterdam. The Netherlands has an embassy in Paramaribo, which also helps Dutch companies that want to do business in Suriname. The Dutch King and Queen made a state visit to Suriname from 1 to 3 December 2025. At bilateral talks on 1 December 2025 the two governments agreed on a second Makandra programme, a government-to-government cooperation programme.

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

During the state visit, on 1 December 2025, the employers' organisations VSB and VNO-NCW signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for joint trade missions, trade fairs and networking events. There is also the Suriname-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, founded in 2018 at the Surinamese embassy in The Hague.

Two Dutch programmes are directly useful for Surinamese businesses. PUM sends experienced Dutch volunteers for short advisory assignments and has representatives in Paramaribo; Suriname is one of PUM's countries in South America. CBI (part of RVO) publishes free studies of the European market per product group, from fruit and vegetables to spices and tourism.

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

Diaspora

A large Surinamese community lives in the Netherlands. It is a market for Surinamese products (peppers, vegetables, sauces, fish, snacks) and a source of investors, customers and know-how. What you need to arrange as a diaspora entrepreneur in Suriname is in the guide on doing business from the diaspora. Doing business from the diaspora

Opportunities

  • Surinamese specialities (peppers, sauces, spices, dried and frozen products) for diaspora shops and restaurants.
  • Remote services in Dutch: customer service, administration, software development, design.
  • Dutch partners and financiers for agriculture, water and energy, often via PUM, RVO or the VSB and VNO-NCW cooperation.
  • Tourism: packages for diaspora visitors and nature travellers from the Netherlands.

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

  • A rejected shipment (residues, label, pests) costs you the goods plus the freight; test beforehand.
  • Dutch banks check payments to and from Suriname closely: document the source of funds and your contracts.
  • The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) affects timber, cocoa and coffee; see the EU export guide for the dates.

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.