In special economic zones business and trades laws differ from the rest of the country. The term, and a number of other terms, can have different specific meanings in different countries and publications. Often they have relaxed jurisdiction of customs or related national regulations. They can be ports or other large areas or smaller allocated areas.
Terms include free port (porto Franco), free zone (zona franca), bonded area (US: foreign-trade zone),
free economic zone,
free-trade zone, export processing zone and
maquiladora
A (), or (), is a word that refers to factories that are largely duty free and tariff-free. These factories take raw materials and assemble, manufacture, or process them and export the finished product. These factories and systems are present t ...
.
Most commonly a free port is a special
customs area or small
customs territory with generally less strict customs regulations (or no
customs duties
A tariff is a tax imposed by the government of a country or by a supranational union on imports or exports of goods. Besides being a source of revenue for the government, import duties can also be a form of regulation of foreign trade and poli ...
or controls for
transshipment). Earlier in history, some free ports like
Hong Kong enjoyed political autonomy. Many international airports have free ports, though they tend to be called customs areas, customs zones, or
international zones.
Africa
Tanzania
Mtwara Freeport Zone
Libya
Misrata Free Zone
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
Free Port of Monrovia
Egypt
*
Port Said
Port Said ( ar, بورسعيد, Būrsaʿīd, ; grc, Πηλούσιον, Pēlousion) is a city that lies in northeast Egypt extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal. With an approximate population of 6 ...
*
Suez Canal Container Terminal
Eritrea
Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...
*
Assab Free Port and International Airport
*
Massawa Free Port and International Airport
Morocco
* Atlantic Free Zone Kenitra
*
Tangier Exportation Free Zone
Mauritius
*
The Mauritius Free Port
Nigeria
Although the enabling act came into effect in 1992, the pioneer Free Zone (the Calabar Free Trade Zone) was not fully completed until 1999, and commenced operation after official commissioning in November 2001. Since then, the Free Zones Scheme has been used as a vehicle for industrial and commercial development of the country. Private Sector participation and partnership with the Federal Government and other tiers of government has helped spread the scheme. This has culminated in the establishment of specialised Free Zones and other types of Zones, namely:
The introduction of free zones has played a large role in increasing the amount of investment into Nigeria. When all the free zones are fully operational, Nigeria is projected to play a large role in expanding export-driven manufacturing activities in Africa.
Asia
Bahrain
*
Manama
China
*
Guangzhou
*
Shanghai
*
Shenzhen
*
Tianjin
*
Xiamen
*
Zhuhai
Hong Kong
*
Central Ferry Piers
The Central Ferry Piers (Chinese: 中環碼頭) are situated on the northeast part of Central, Hong Kong Island. The ferries mostly depart to Outlying Islands in the New Territories, with the exception of Pier 1 serving as a government ...
,
Victoria City
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychel ...
*
Container Terminal 9,
Tsing Yi
*
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal,
Kowloon
Kowloon () is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. With a population of 2,019,533 and a population density of in 2006, it is the most populous area in Hong Kong, compared with Hong Kong Island and t ...
*
Kwai Tsing Container Terminals,
Stonecutters Island
*
River Trade Terminal,
Tuen Mun
*
Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Terminal,
Kowloon
Kowloon () is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. With a population of 2,019,533 and a population density of in 2006, it is the most populous area in Hong Kong, compared with Hong Kong Island and t ...
*
Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier,
Kowloon
Kowloon () is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. With a population of 2,019,533 and a population density of in 2006, it is the most populous area in Hong Kong, compared with Hong Kong Island and t ...
*
Tuen Mun Ferry Pier,
Tuen Mun
Indonesia
*
Batam,
Riau Islands
Iran
*
Anzali
*
Arvand Free Zone
The Arvand Free Zone with an area of 37,400 hectares is at the confluence of the Karun and Arvand (Shatt al-Arab) rivers. The Zone is located at a height of three meters above sea level and in proximity to Iraq and in the north west of Persian G ...
*
Chabahar
Chābahār ( fa, چابهار, bal, چھبار, čahbàr; ; formerly ''Bandar Beheshtī'') is the capital city of Chabahar County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. It is a free port (free-trade zone) situated on the coast of the Gulf of ...
*
Kish Island
*
KSEZ
*
PSEEZ
*
Qeshm
Israel
*
Eilat
Eilat ( , ; he, אֵילַת ; ar, إِيلَات, Īlāt) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan ...
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
*
Nagasaki
*
Niigata
*
Tokyo
Lebanon
*
Port of Beirut
*
Port of Tripoli (Lebanon)
The Port of Tripoli ( ar, مرفأ طرابلس) is the second major port in Lebanon. The port covers an approximate area of , with a water area of , and the land area composing of , and a dump area adjacent to the current port, reserved for the ...
Macau
*
Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal,
Cotai West
*
Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal,
Sé, Macau Peninsula
*
Taipa Ferry Terminal,
Taipa East
*
Kai Ho Port,
Coloane
Malaysia
*
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
Until 1969
*
Langkawi
Mongolia
*
Altanbulag Free Trade Zone
*
Tsagaan Nuur Free Economic Zone
*
Zamyn-Uud Free Economic Zone
Pakistan
*
Gwadar Gwadar Port
Philippines
*
Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority Zamboanga may refer to:
*Zamboanga (province), a former province of the Philippines
*Zamboanga City, a highly urbanized city located on Mindanao, Philippines
*Zamboanga Peninsula, an administrative region in the Philippines comprising these provinc ...
Singapore
*
Singapore
South Korea
*
Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone
*
Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone
*
Incheon Free Economic Zone
*
Ulsan Free Economic Zone
*
Gwangju Free Economic Zone
*
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone
*
Chungbuk Free Economic Zone
*
East Coast Free Economic Zone
Taiwan
*
Port of Kaohsiung Free Trade Zone
*
Port of Keelung
The Port of Keelung (), also known as Keelung Harbor, is located in the vicinity of Keelung City, Taiwan. It is operated by Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Taiwan's state-owned port management company.
History
The 1858 Treaty of Tientsin ...
Free Trade Zone
*
Port of Taichung Free Trade Zone
*
Port of Taipei Free Trade Zone
*
Taoyuan Air Cargo Park Free Trade Zone
Thailand
*Port of Bangkok
*Port of Chiang Kong
*Port of Chieng Saen
*Port of Laem Chabang
*Port of Ranong
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
*
Nukus FEZ
Europe
Albania
*
Koplik ''(Albanian Alps)
*
Spitalle '' (Port of
Durres)
Austria
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Linz ''(port on river
Danube)''
*
Vienna ''(port on river
Danube)''
Belarus
*
Brest FEZ
*
Grodno FEZ
{{peacock, date=January 2024
Free economic zone Grodnoinvest is an investment platform in Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика ...
*
Mogilev Free Enterprise Zone
Croatia
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Rijeka
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
, 1723
*
Zadar, 1922-1947 (Porto Franco della città di Zara)
Denmark
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Freeport of Copenhagen (''Københavns Frihavn''),
Copenhagen
Finland
(Member of the
European Union)
*Free zone of
Lappeenranta (''Lappeenrannan Vapaa-alue'')
*Freeport of
Hanko Hanko may refer to
People
*August Hanko (military personnel), August Hanko, German First World War flying ace
Places
*Hanko, Finland, town and municipality
*Hanko Peninsula, Finland
*Hankø, an island in the Oslo Fjord in Norway
*The asteroid ...
(''Hangon Vapaasatama'')
France
(Member of the
European Union)
*Free Zone of
Le Verdon - Port de
Bordeaux (''Zone franche du Verdon — Port de Bordeaux'')
Germany
(Member of the
European Union)
*Freeport of
Bremerhaven (''Freihafen Bremerhaven'')
*Freeport of
Cuxhaven (''Freihafen Cuxhaven''), since 1896
*Freeport of
Deggendorf (''Freihafen Deggendorf''), since 1989
*Freeport of
Duisburg (''Freihafen Duisburg''), since 1989
*
Speicherstadt, Hamburg
Georgia
*
Adjara
Adjara ( ka, აჭარა ''Ach’ara'' ) or Achara, officially known as the Autonomous Republic of Adjara ( ka, აჭარის ავტონომიური რესპუბლიკა ''Ach’aris Avt’onomiuri Resp’ublik’a'' ...
autonomous republic
*
Batumi, 1878-1886 (then
Russia)
Gibraltar
(Part of the United Kingdom)
*
Port of Gibraltar
The Port of Gibraltar, also known as Gibraltar Harbour, is a seaport in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It was a strategically important location during the Napoleonic Wars and after 1869 served as a supply point for ships travelling ...
Greece
(Member of the
European Union)
*Free zone of
Evros (Debzos)
*Free zone of
Heraklion
*Free zone of
Piraeus
*Free zone of
Thessaloniki
Ireland
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Port of Cork Free Port
*
Shannon Free Zone (1959 - 2003)
Isle of Man
*
Isle of Man Airport (Ballasala)
Italy
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Aosta Valley
*
Campione d'Italia
*
Livigno
*
Livorno
Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...
, 1675–1860
*
Port of Trieste
*Free Zone of
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
(''Porto franco di Venezia'')
Latvia
(Member of the
European Union)
*Free port of
Riga
Riga (; lv, Rīga , liv, Rīgõ) is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Ba ...
*
Free port of Ventspils
*Rezekne SEZ
*Latgale SEZ
*Liepaja SEZ
Lithuania
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Akmenė Free Economic Zone
Akmenė Free Economic Zone (FEZ) is a special economic zone located in Akmenė, Lithuania. It is 98.6 ha area, which was established in 2012 and managed by UAB Akmenės laisvoji ekonominė zona since 2018.
FEZ companies
Since 2019, more than ...
*
Kaunas Free Economic Zone
*
Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone
Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone is a special economic zone located in Kėdainiai, Lithuania. It has 130.55 ha area, which was established in 2012 for 49 years.
FEZ companies
The industrial and medical gas company AGA
Aga or AGA may refer to:
...
*
Klaipėda Free Economic Zone
Klaipėda Free Economic Zone or Klaipėda FEZ ( lt, Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is the first free economic zone in the Baltics. It was established in 1996, officially launched in 2002.
Klaipėda FEZ consists of 412 ha of land dedicated ...
*
Marijampolė Free Economic Zone
Marijampolė Free Economic Zone or Baltic FEZ ( lt, Marijampolės laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a special economic zone located in Marijampolė, Lithuania. It has 77.73 ha area, which was established in 2011 December 23 near European route E67 a ...
*
Panevėžys Free Economic Zone
*
Šiauliai Free Economic Zone
Luxembourg
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Luxembourg Freeport
Malta
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Malta Freeport
Moldova
Giurgiulești Freeport
Monaco
*Monaco Freeport
Portugal
(Member of the
European Union)
*The
Free Trade Zone of Madeira, which is composed by the following tax benefits
**Industrial Free Zone of
Caniçal
Caniçal () is a civil parish in the municipality of Machico in the Portuguese island of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 3,924, in an area of 11.85 km2. Equidistant from Funchal and Santana (20 km), the community is connected to the ...
**International Business Centre of
Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg
, map_alt=Location of Madeira
, map_caption=Location of Madeira
, subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...
**International Ship Registry of Madeira
Romania
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Port of Constanţa
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
, January 2007
Russia
*
Nakhodka
*
Vladivostok, 1861–1909, 2015 (
Free port of Vladivostok The Free port of Vladivostok is a free port, which means a port zone under a special custom and taxation system, with a particular jurisdiction regarding investments. This status has been granted to Vladivostok from 1861 to 1909, and since October ...
)
Serbia
Serbia has 14 free economic zones as of September 2017;
these are:
* Free Zone
Apatin
* Free Zone FAS-
Kragujevac
Kragujevac ( sr-Cyrl, Крагујевац, ) is the fourth largest city in Serbia and the administrative centre of the Šumadija District. It is the historical centre of the geographical region of Šumadija in central Serbia, and is situated on ...
* Free Zone
Kruševac
* Free Zone
Niš-South
* Free Zone
Novi Sad
* Free Zone
Pirot
Pirot ( sr-cyr, Пирот) is a city and the administrative center of the Pirot District in southeastern Serbia. According to 2011 census, the urban area of the city has a population of 38,785, while the population of the city administrative area ...
* Free Zone
Priboj
* Free Zone
Šabac
* Free Zone
Smederevo
* Free Zone
Subotica
Subotica ( sr-cyrl, Суботица, ; hu, Szabadka) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the North Bačka District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Formerly the largest city of Vojvodina region, ...
* Free Zone
Svilajnac
* Free Zone
Užice
* Free Zone
Vranje
* Free Zone
Zrenjanin
Spain
(Member of the
European Union)
*Free zone of
Cádiz (''Zona franca de Cádiz'')
*Free zone of
Vigo (''Zona franca de Vigo'')
*Free zone of
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (''Zona franca de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria'')
*Free zone of
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, commonly abbreviated as Santa Cruz (), is a city, the capital of the island of Tenerife, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and capital of the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz has a population of 206,593 (2013) within its admi ...
(''Zona franca de Tenerife'')
*(
Ceuta and
Melilla
Melilla ( , ; ; rif, Mřič ; ar, مليلية ) is an autonomous city of Spain located in north Africa. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of . It was par ...
are not Free Ports or Free zones because they are part of Spain, but not part of the European union for customs and excises)
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
(Member of the
European Union)
*
Marstrand Free Port, 18th century
*
Saint-Barthélemy, 1785–1878
*Stockholms frihamn, 1919–1995
*Frihamnen, Göteborg, 1922-
Switzerland
*
Geneva Freeport
Geneva Freeport () is a warehouse complex in Geneva, Switzerland, for the storage of art and other valuables and collectibles. It is the oldest and largest freeport facility, and the one with the most artworks, with 40% of its collection being a ...
, La Praille, Geneva
*
Geneva Cointrin International Airport free port,
Geneva
*Magazzini Generali con Punto Franco SA, Chiasso and Stabio, free port and bonded warehouse,
Chiasso[Magazzini Generali con Punto Franco SA](_blank)
/ref>
*PESA - Port-Franc et Entrepôts de Lausanne-Chavornay SA, free port and bonded warehouse, Chavornay (Vaud)
Chavornay () is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. In 2017 the former municipalities of Essert-Pittet and Corcelles-sur-Chavornay merged into the municipality of Chavornay.
History
Chavornay ...
Cyprus
(Member of the European Union)
*Limassol Free Zone
*Larnaca Free Zone
Ukraine
*Free port and free economic zone Odessa
Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...
**1819-1858
**Trade sea port of Odessa
Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...
, January 1, 2000 for 25 years
United Kingdom
* Liverpool Free Zone
* Prestwick Airport Free Zone
* Southampton Free Zone
* Tilbury Free Zone
*Port of Sheerness
Sheerness () is a town and civil parish beside the mouth of the River Medway on the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 11,938, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby town ...
Free Zone
* Teesside Free Zone
The Americas
Argentina
*Zona Franca La Plata
La Plata () is the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. According to the , it has a population of 654,324 and its metropolitan area, the Greater La Plata, has 787,294 inhabitants. It is located 9 kilometers (6 miles) inland from th ...
*Polo Industrial Zona Franca General Pico, La Pampa
The Bahamas
*Freeport Freeport, a variant of free port, may refer to:
Places United States
*Freeport, California
*Freeport, Florida
*Freeport, Illinois
*Freeport, Indiana
*Freeport, Iowa
*Freeport, Kansas
*Freeport, Maine, a New England town
**Freeport (CDP), Maine, the ...
, Grand Bahama
Bermuda
*Free port of Hamilton Harbour, Hamilton, Bermuda
The City of Hamilton, in Pembroke Parish, is the territorial capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination. Its population of 854 (2016) is one of the sm ...
Brazil
*Zona Franca de Manaus
Manaus () is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It is the seventh-largest city in Brazil, with an estimated 2020 population of 2,219,580 distributed over a land area of about . Located at the east center of the s ...
Canada
Foreign trade zones:
*Calgary Region Inland Port
* Cape Breton Regional Municipality
* CentrePort Canada
* Global Transportation Hub Authority
* Halifax Gateway
* Port Alberta
* Quebec City
*Niagara
Niagara may refer to:
Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada
*Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River
*Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border
*Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...
* Windsor–Essex
*Calgary Region Inland Port - FTZ Point[https://www.calgarylogisticscouncil.org/projects/calgary-region-inland-port/#:~:text=The%20Calgary%20Region%20is%20recognized,major%20cities%20across%20North%20America]
Chile
* Iquique
* Punta Arenas
Colombia
* San Andrés
*Zona Franca
*Zona Franca de Bogota
*Zona Franca del Pacifico
*Zona Franca Palermo
Dominican Republic
*Mega Port of Punta Caucedo
Jamaica
*Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of the Parishes of Jamaica, parish of Saint James Parish, Jamaica, St. James in Jamaica. The city is the fourth-largest urban area in the country by population, after Kingston, Jamaica, Kingston, Spanish Town, and Por ...
Panama
* Colón Free Trade Zone
Costa Rica
*Zona Franca Saret
*Zona Franca Coyol
*CF Free Zone Park S.R.L
*Zona Franca Metropolitana
*Zona Franca del Este
*Concentrix Free Trade Zone, S.A
Uruguay
*Carrasco International Airport (Free Airport)
*Zona Franca Colonia
*Zona Franca de Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
* Puerto de Montevideo (Free Port)
*Zona Franca Rivera
United States
* United States Virgin Islands
Venezuela
*Free port of Isla Margarita (''Puerto Libre de Margarita'')
*Free zone of the Paraguaná Peninsula (''Zona Franca de la Península de Paraguaná'')
*Free zone of Santa Elena de Uairén (''Zona Franca de Santa Elena de Uairén'')
See also
* Bonded warehouse
* Bonded logistics park
* Duty-free shop
** List of duty-free shops
* Entrepôt
* Free-trade area
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Free Ports, List Of
*
Freight transport
International taxation
*
*