Population | 179,857 (2022) |
GDP | 1.97 billion USD (2022) |
GDP per capita | 11,023 USD (2022) |
Internet penetration | 56.8% of the population use the internet. |
Ecommerce users | Popular ecommerce platforms in St. Lucia are eBay, Shopify, and Magento |
Leading product categories | Crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, poultry meat, and petroleum gas |
Preferred online payment method(s) | International credit cards/bank cards, cash upon delivery, PayPal, and other electronic money transfer services |
Languages | English and Saint Lucian Creole French |
Currency | East Caribbean Dollar/ XCD/ $ |
The landed cost for a cross-border transaction includes all duties, taxes, and fees associated with the purchase. This includes:
CIF: CIF (cost, insurance, freight) is a method for calculating import taxes where the tax is calculated on the cost of the order, plus the cost of freight, insurance, and seller's commission.
Further explanation of duty, tax, and de minimis is provided below
Applied to the CIF value of the order
Duty and tax will be charged only on imports into St. Lucia where the total CIF value of the import exceeds St. Lucia’s minimum value threshold (de minimis). St. Lucia does not have a de minimis, which means duty and tax fees are charged on all imports. The only time goods are exempt from duty and tax is when they receive preferential treatment through trade agreements.
Applied to the CIF value of the order
St. Lucia has a wide variation of value-added tax (VAT), which ranges from 0-70%, with an average VAT rate of 12.5% on the CIF value of the order imported.
Applied to the CIF value of the order
Most product categories receive a duty rate of 20% applied to the CIF value of the order.
There are additional fees that may apply to certain imports.
Customs service charge: 5%
Environmental levy: 1.5%
Excise duty: Varying rates
Below is a sample landed cost breakdown for St. Lucia calculated using Zonos Quoter. Since there is no de minimis, duty and tax will always apply.
Landed cost for a shipment to St. Lucia:
St. Lucia has at least 10 trade agreements that offer a zero or highly discounted duty rate for goods made in a participating country. The most prominent of these trade agreements are the CARICOM free trade agreements.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
The CARICOM is the Caribbean community, comprised of 15 countries that have formed free trade agreements to facilitate economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equally shared, and to coordinate foreign policy.
What countries are included in CARICOM?
St. Lucia gives duty-free access to imports from other CARICOM countries, given that the goods satisfy the rules of origin. Some exceptions are granted duty-free treatment under the safeguard provisions of the CARICOM Treaty, but preferential imported goods still incur the customs service charge.
Additional CARICOM agreements
For further information on St. Lucia’s CARICOM agreements visit: St. Lucia Trade Agreements
St. Lucia is a member of the World Trade Organization
St. Lucia is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Therefore, St. Lucia must abide by the most-favored-nation (MFN) clause, which requires a country to provide any concessions, privileges, or immunities granted to one nation in a trade agreement to all other WTO member countries. For example, if a country reduces duties by 10% for one country, the MFN clause states that all WTO members will have their duties cut by 10% into that country.
Talk to your carrier about customs refunds.
Depending on the courier, additional shipping fees may include the following:
Always required:
Sometimes required:
Shipments may require a CARICOM invoice. This is a special invoice used by some Caribbean countries and will be obtained from the consignee by the carrier through the customs website. When required, the shipment cannot clear Customs without this document. A shipment subject to CARICOM is considered a formal entry, and additional fees may apply.
Government agencies regulate imports.
Restricted items are different from prohibited items. Prohibited items are not allowed to be imported into a country at all. Restricted items are not allowed to be imported into a country unless the importer has approval or a special license that allows them. Controlled goods have military or national security significance.
Prohibited items:
Restricted items:
St. Lucia’s exportation procedure, required documents, and prohibited exports.
When did St. Lucia become a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization)?
St. Lucia has been a WTO member since January 1st, 1995.
A cross-border guide to St. Lucian ecommerce, shipping, and importing goods
If you are looking to grow your ecommerce business into St. Lucia
, you’ve come to the right place. In our guide, created by Zonos' cross-border experts, you will find the following: