Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Somalia

Africa · 2 port guides

In 2025 the United States exported $49.7 million of goods to Somalia and imported $701 thousand from there. Somalia ranked 170th among US export markets and 206th among sources of US imports.

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6 ports in Somalia recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$49.7MUp 1.0% on 2024 ($49.2 million)
US imports, 2025
$701KDown 71.8% on 2024 ($2.5 million)
Goods balance
$49.0MUS surplus
Export market rank
170thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
206thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Somalia

Aircraft and spacecraft (chapter 88) led US exports to Somalia at $8.3 million, 17% of the total. The top three chapters made up 45%.

  1. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$8.3 million16.7%
  2. 21Miscellaneous food preparations$7.5 million15.1%
  3. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$6.5 million13.2%
  4. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$4.7 million9.5%
  5. 02Meat$4.2 million8.5%

US imports from Somalia

Gums, resins and plant extracts (chapter 13) led US imports from Somalia at $324 thousand, 46% of the total. The top three chapters made up 83%.

  1. 13Gums, resins and plant extracts$324 thousand46.2%
  2. 15Fats and oils$210 thousand29.9%
  3. 33Essential oils, perfumes and cosmetics$50 thousand7.1%
  4. 99Special import reporting provisions$25 thousand3.6%
  5. 39Plastics$24 thousand3.4%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Somalia, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Somalia requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Somalia.

Exports through the port, 2025
$2.3M4.6% of the US total with Somalia
Leading export goods
MeatHS chapter 02, $2.2 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Somalia

2 ports in Somalia have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Berbera records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 7.9 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Somalia: Baraawe, Boosaaso, Marka and Muqdisho.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.