USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is Suriname's largest CARICOM supplier: fuel, drinks, food and chemicals, worth USD 104 million in 2025 according to T&T's own figures. Suriname sells little there. With decades of oil and gas experience, T&T is also a source of partners and know-how.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 10.1 million
T&T figures via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 103.5 million
T&T 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.
  • Caribbean Airlines flies direct between Paramaribo and Port of Spain.
  • No embassies in each other's capitals; Suriname covers T&T from Georgetown.
  • Since July 2026 T&T is on the US Section 301 list (10%), Suriname is not.

Trade in figures

According to Trinidad and Tobago's figures (UN Comtrade), T&T exported USD 103.5 million to Suriname in 2025: fuel and oil products (USD 44.3 million), drinks (USD 9.5 million), bakery and cereal products (USD 6.4 million) and chemical products (USD 6.2 million). Suriname itself reports higher imports from T&T: USD 180 million in 2023 and USD 250 million in 2022, probably because fuel cargoes are recorded differently.

T&T bought USD 10.1 million from Suriname in 2025. In 2024 this included vegetable oils and fats (USD 3.5 million), oil products, rice, bananas and fish (about USD 1 million each).

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

Both countries are members of CARICOM and the CSME: goods of CARICOM origin move duty free in both directions, with a CARICOM certificate of origin and a CARICOM invoice. Repacking or reselling goods from third countries does not qualify for the zero rate.

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

Market access in practice

T&T is English-speaking and has a mature manufacturing sector, especially food, drinks and packaging. Surinamese exporters therefore compete with local producers. Labelling and food safety requirements come from the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards and the Ministry of Health; plants and animals need a phytosanitary or veterinary certificate. Buyers are wholesalers, supermarket chains and food processors.

Transport and travel

Caribbean Airlines flies direct between Paramaribo and Port of Spain. For sea freight Port of Spain is a regional port with links to the rest of the Caribbean; ask your forwarder about route and lead time.

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 Trinidad and Tobago have no embassies in each other's capitals. The Surinamese embassy in Georgetown also covers Trinidad and Tobago, and T&T's ambassador for Suriname is based in Georgetown. In 2024 T&T's trade attaché for Guyana and Suriname visited Surinamese business organisations to build trade contacts.

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 T&T the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association (TTMA) and the export agency exporTT are the usual entry points. For regional trade fairs and grant programmes the Caribbean Export Development Agency is useful.

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

Opportunities

  • Know-how and partners from Trinidad's oil and gas sector for Suriname's offshore development.
  • Rice, bananas, fish and processed farm products of CARICOM origin.
  • Sourcing drinks, food and packaging duty free, if they are of CARICOM origin.

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

  • Not everything from T&T is a CARICOM good: always ask your supplier for the certificate of origin.
  • Competition from large Trinidadian brands on supermarket shelves.
  • Foreign exchange: TT dollars are not always freely available; agree payment in USD.

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.