Promote:
Export from São Tomé and Príncipe
A short guide for companies selling from São Tomé and Príncipe: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What São Tomé and Príncipe sells, and who buys it
Goods exports
US$31.5 million
Merchandise exports were US$31.5 million in 2025, as reported to UN Comtrade.
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Services exportsEstimate
US$112 million
Services exports were US$112.0 million in 2025, a provisional central bank balance of payments figure.
Source: BCSTP, balance of payments to first quarter 2026 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Top goods exports
2025
- 1. Cocoa beans (HS 1801)US$20.9 million
- 2. Palm oil (HS 1511)US$4.61 million
- 3. Chocolate and cocoa foods (HS 1806)US$2.23 million
- 4. Locust beans, algae and other plant products (HS 1212)US$1.09 million
- 5. Oilseeds and oil-bearing fruits (HS 1207)US$671,840
- 6. Pepper (HS 0904)US$394,256
- 7. Radio and television transmission apparatus (HS 8525)US$314,682
- 8. Refined petroleum oils (HS 2710)US$303,165
Show 12 more products
- 9. Trucks and goods vehicles (HS 8704)US$231,184
- 10. Coffee (HS 0901)US$167,904
- 11. Coconut and palm kernel oil (HS 1513)US$140,531
- 12. Compound optical microscopes (HS 9011)US$69,415
- 13. Aircraft parts (HS 8807)US$57,832
- 14. Passenger cars (HS 8703)US$54,911
- 15. Oilseed cake and other residues (HS 2306)US$35,826
- 16. Ferrous scrap (HS 7204)US$35,487
- 17. Lifting and handling machinery (HS 8428)US$29,501
- 18. Computers and data processing machines (HS 8471)US$22,150
- 19. Surface-active agents and cleaning preparations (HS 3402)US$13,876
- 20. Pharmaceutical goods (HS 3006)US$13,155
- Cocoa beans, palm oil and chocolate are 88.0 percent of 2025 exports, so the top of this list reflects three products. Source (opens in a new tab)
- UN Comtrade holds no separate re-export flow for the country, so the re-export share of any line is not known. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Where the goods go
2025, share of goods exports
- Netherlands62.3%
- Germany13.2%
- Belgium10.3%
- Latvia3.7%
- United Arab Emirates2.7%
- Spain1.5%
- France1.3%
- Portugal1.2%
- The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium take 85.8 percent of 2025 exports, following cocoa, palm oil and chocolate sales. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Areas not elsewhere specified are 1.0 percent of 2025 exports and are left out of the list. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
2. What to look into next
Our reading
The research marks cocoa beans, palm oil and chocolate and cocoa foods as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only São Tomé and Príncipe’s top destinations overall.
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports
Cocoa beans grew 14% from 2024 to 2025. A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by product, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before
The Netherlands takes 62.3% of São Tomé and Príncipe’s goods exports. If you sell there, its import rules and buyer channels come first; either way, compare at least one other market before you commit.
Source: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
Based on: Where the goods go
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.
AGOA
AGOA, the United States' trade preference program for eligible African countries, can remove duties on qualifying goods.
As of the June 30, 2026 Federal Register list, the country is designated; eligibility is reviewed each year, and the program runs to December 31, 2028 under Public Law 119-103.
Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, 30 June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026
European Union Everything But Arms (EBA)
Lets goods that meet origin rules enter the European Union without duties or quotas, except arms.
Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 applies from January 1, 2027; under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1951 the country moves to Standard GSP on January 1, 2029.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2026/1395, Annex I, 22 June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026
Developing Countries Trading Scheme (United Kingdom)
Lets goods that meet origin rules enter the United Kingdom at reduced or zero duty.
The country left the least developed list on December 13, 2024; the scheme gives graduating countries a 3-year transition in this tier before Enhanced Preferences.
Source: GOV.UK, Developing Countries Trading Scheme preference tiers (opens in a new tab) · as of June 19, 2023
4. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from São Tomé and Príncipe
- Arrange payment through an authorized bank by documentary credit, documentary collection or direct payment.Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe (BCSTP)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BCSTP, foreign exchange operations rule NAP 06/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 5, 2024
- Where the buyer asks for a phytosanitary certificate, contact the national plant protection organization.Centro de Investigação Agronómica e Tecnológica de São Tomé e Príncipe (CIAT-STP)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IPPC, São Tomé and Príncipe country page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Give the bank a cargo note, so it issues the export commitment form that customs checks.Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe (BCSTP)The central bank validates the form within 12 hoursOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BCSTP, foreign exchange operations rule NAP 06/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 5, 2024
- Present the invoice, transport documents, commitment form and, where applicable, a certificate of origin with the customs declaration.Direção Geral das AlfândegasOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BCSTP, foreign exchange operations rule NAP 06/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 5, 2024
Show 1 more export step
- Bring the proceeds home through the banking system; banks pass 25 percent of the foreign currency to the central bank.Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe (BCSTP)Within 180 days of shipment; 25 percent retainedOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BCSTP, foreign exchange operations rule NAP 06/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 5, 2024
5. Organizations that help exporters
Start with INE. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- São Tomé and Príncipe is a very small state: this guide lists every national body found with official evidence dated 2025 or later, nine in all. Source (opens in a new tab)
Export development and market information
- Research markets
National statistics office
INE
Instituto Nacional de Estatística
Publishes consumer price indices and census results a company can use for pricing and market research.
Visit INE (opens in a new tab)Source: INE São Tomé e Príncipe, home page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Research markets
Regional finance secretariat
SRFAP
Secretaria Regional das Finanças e Administração Pública
Oversees customs, tax and statistics services for Príncipe Island.
Visit SRFAP (opens in a new tab)Source: Príncipe government, finance secretariat page (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
- Meet requirements
Plant protection organization
CIAT-STP
Centro de Investigação Agronómica e Tecnológica de São Tomé e Príncipe
Is the national plant protection contact the IPPC lists for phytosanitary matters.
Visit CIAT-STP (opens in a new tab)Source: IPPC, São Tomé and Príncipe country page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Petroleum regulator
ANP-STP
Agência Nacional do Petróleo de São Tomé e Príncipe
Regulates, contracts and oversees oil and gas activities.
Visit ANP-STP (opens in a new tab)Source: ANP-STP, home page and news, 2026 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 11, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
Commercial arbitration center
CA-CCIAS
Centro de Arbitragem da Câmara de Comércio, Indústria, Agricultura e Serviços
Settles commercial and investment disputes through arbitration and mediation.
Visit CA-CCIAS (opens in a new tab)Source: CA-CCIAS, about the center page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Exporters must bring proceeds home within 180 days, and banks pass 25 percent of export foreign currency to the central bank each month.
What to do: Check the 25 percent conversion rule with your bank before you set prices.
Sources: BCSTP, foreign exchange operations rule NAP 06/2024 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab); BCSTP, Governor annual speech, 2025 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Cocoa concentration
Cocoa beans were 66.3 percent of 2025 merchandise exports, and the central bank governor says cocoa exports reached their highest level in decades.
What to do: Check price exposure and buyer terms before you rely on a single crop.
Sources: UN Comtrade, São Tomé and Príncipe exports by destination, 2025 (opens in a new tab); BCSTP, Governor annual speech, 2025 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Inflation
Consumer prices in the city of São Tomé were 8.3 percent higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, and the central bank keeps a restrictive stance.
What to do: Check price-adjustment terms in long contracts before you sign.
Sources: INE, consumer price index note, September 2026 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab); BCSTP, Governor annual speech, 2025 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your São Tomé and Príncipe project.
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Promote:São Tomé and Príncipe is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.