Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and the British Indian Ocean Territory

Africa · 1 port guide

In 2025 the United States exported $12.5 million of goods to the British Indian Ocean Territory and imported $6 thousand from there. The British Indian Ocean Territory ranked 198th among US export markets and 229th among sources of US imports.

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1 port in the British Indian Ocean Territory recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$12.5MUp 135.7% on 2024 ($5.3 million)
US imports, 2025
$6KDown 98.8% on 2024 ($462 thousand)
Goods balance
$12.5MUS surplus
Export market rank
198thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
229thAmong 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 the British Indian Ocean Territory

Mineral fuels and oils (chapter 27) led US exports to the British Indian Ocean Territory at $7.5 million, 60% of the total. The top three chapters made up 76%.

  1. 27Mineral fuels and oils$7.5 million59.8%
  2. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$1.3 million10.2%
  3. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$791 thousand6.3%
  4. 48Paper and paperboard$544 thousand4.3%
  5. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$434 thousand3.5%

US imports from the British Indian Ocean Territory

Special import reporting provisions (chapter 99) led US imports from the British Indian Ocean Territory at $3 thousand, 55% of the total.

  1. 99Special import reporting provisions$3 thousand54.8%
  2. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$3 thousand45.2%

Trade terms

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

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 the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Exports through the port, 2025
$314K2.5% of the US total with the British Indian Ocean Territory
Leading export goods
Glues, enzymes and modified starchesHS chapter 35, $189 thousand

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in the British Indian Ocean Territory

1 port in the British Indian Ocean Territory has a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index.

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.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.