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.

Most commonly a free port is a special customs area or small customs territory with generally less strict customs regulations (or no customs duties or controls for transshipment). Earlier in history, some free ports 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

  • Misurata Free Zone

Liberia

  • Free Port of Monrovia

Egypt

  • Port Said
  • Suez Canal Container Terminal

Eritrea

  • 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:

{| class="wikitable"

! Serial number !! Name !! Location !! Status !! Ownership

|-

| 1 || Snake Island Integrated Free Zone || Lagos || Operational || Private

|-

| 2 || Kano Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) || Kano State || Operational || Fed. Govt.

|-

| 3 || Onne oil & Gas Free Zone || River State || Operational || Under Parallel Authority

|-

| 4 || Tinapa Free Zone & Tourism Resort || CRS || Operational || Private/Public

|-

| 5 || Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ) || CRS || Operational || Fed. Govt.

|-

| 6 || Maigatari Border Free Zone || Jigawa State || Operational || State

|-

| 7 || LADOL Free Zone || Lagos || Operational || Private

|-

| 8 || Enpower, Enugu Industrial Park Free Zone || Enugu || Operational || Private

|-

| 9 || Airline Services Export Proc. Zone || Lagos State || Operational || Private

|-

| 10 || ALSCON Export Processing Zone || Akwa Ibon || Operational || Private

|-

| 11 || Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone || Ogun State || Operational || Public/ Private

|-

| 12 || Sebore Farms Export Processing Zones || Adamawa State || Operational || Private

|-

| 13 || Ibom Science & Tech. Park Free Zone || Akwa Ibom || Under Cons. || Public/Private

|-

| 14 || Living Spring Free Zone || Osun State || Under Cons. || State

|-

| 15 || Lekki Free Zone || Lagos State || Operational || State/ Private

|-

| 16 || Brass LNG Free Zone || Bayelsa || Under Cons. || Public/Private

|-

| 17 || Abuja Technological Village Free Zone || Abuja || Under Cons. || Public/Private

|-

| 18 || Specialized Railway Industrial FTZ - Kajola || Ogun State || Under Cons. || Public/Private

|-

| 19 || Imo Guangdong FTZ || Imo State || Under Cons. || Public/Private

|-

| 20 || OK Free Trade Zone || Ondo & Ogun || Under Cons. || States/ Private

|-

| 21 || Lagos Free Zone || Lagos State || Under Cons. || Private

|-

| 22 || Kwara Free Zone || Kwara State || Declaration || State Govt.

|-

| 23 || Oluyole Free Trade Zone || Oyo State || Declaration || State Govt.

|-

| 24 || Koko Free Trade Zone || Delta State || Declaration || State Govt.

|-

| 25 || OILSS Logistics Free Zone || Lagos || Declaration || Private

|-

| 26 || Banki Border Free Zone || Borno State || Declaration || State

|-

| 27 || NAHCO Free Trade Zone || Lagos State || Operational || Private

|}

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

Azerbaijan

  • Alat

Bahrain

  • Manama

China

  • Guangzhou
  • Shanghai
  • Shenzhen
  • Tianjin
  • Xiamen
  • Zhuhai

Hong Kong

  • Central Ferry Piers, Victoria City
  • Container Terminal 9, Tsing Yi
  • Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Kowloon
  • Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, Stonecutters Island
  • River Trade Terminal, Tuen Mun
  • Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Terminal, Kowloon
  • Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, Kowloon
  • Tuen Mun Ferry Pier, Tuen Mun

India

  • Astromar Free Zone

Indonesia

  • Batam, Riau Islands

Iran

  • Anzali
  • Arvand Free Zone
  • Chabahar
  • Kish Island
  • Aras Free Zone
  • Maku Free Zone
  • Qeshm

Japan

  • Nagasaki
  • Niigata
  • Tokyo

Lebanon

  • Port of Beirut
  • Port of Tripoli (Lebanon)

Macau

  • Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal, Cotai West
  • Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Sé, Macau Peninsula
  • Taipa Ferry Terminal, Taipa East
  • Kai Ho Port, Coloane

Malaysia

thumb|[[Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, also known as the Silicon Valley of the East]]thumb|[[Port of Tanjung Pelepas, the 15th busiest container port in the world]]

  • Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone, George Town, Penang
  • Labuan
  • Langkawi
  • Pangkor Perak, Alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are not Duty free.
  • Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor
  • Tioman Island
  • Waterfront ferry terminal and shopping complex Johor Bahru

Mongolia

  • Altanbulag Free Trade Zone
  • Tsagaannuur Free Economic Zone
  • Zamyn-Üüd Free Economic Zone
  • Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone

; Austria

  • Linz (port on river Danube) - ceased
  • Vienna (port on river Danube) - ceased

; Bulgaria

  • Free Zone Bourgas
  • Free Zone Plovdiv
  • Free Zone Pyce
  • Free Zone Rousse

; Croatia

  • Danube free zone of Vukovar
  • Free zone of Kukuljanovo
  • Free zone of Port of Rijeka - Škrljevo
  • Free zone of Osijek
  • Free zone of Zagreb
  • Free zone of Krapina-Zagorje
  • Free zone of Split-Dalmatia
  • Free zone of Port of Ploče
  • Free zone of Port of Pula
  • Free zone of Port of Split

; Cyprus

  • Limassol Free Zone - ceased
  • Larnaca Free Zone - ceased
  • Customs Warehousing & Free Zones, Nicosia

; Czech Republic

  • Free zone Ostrava
  • Free zone Pardubice

; Denmark

  • Freeport of Copenhagen (Københavns Frihavn), Copenhagen

; Estonia

  • Muuga Free Zone
  • Sillamäe Free Zone
  • Paldiski free zone

; Finland

  • Free zone of Lappeenranta (Lappeenrannan Vapaa-alue) - ceased
  • Freeport of Hanko (Hangon Vapaasatama) - ceased

; France

  • Free Zone of Le Verdon - Port de Bordeaux (Zone franche du Verdon — Port de Bordeaux)

; Germany

  • Freeport of Bremerhaven (Freihafen Bremerhaven)
  • Freeport of Cuxhaven (Freihafen Cuxhaven), since 1896
  • Freeport of Deggendorf (Freihafen Deggendorf), since 1989 - ceased
  • Freeport of Duisburg (Freihafen Duisburg), since 1989 - ceased
  • Speicherstadt, Hamburg - ceased

; Greece

  • Free zone of Evros (Debzos) - ceased
  • Free zone of Heraklion
  • Free zone of Piraeus
  • Free zone of Thessaloniki
  • Free Zone of Platygiali

; Hungary

  • Customs free zone Záhony

; Ireland

  • Port of Cork Free Port - ceased
  • Shannon Free Zone (1959 - 2003) - ceased

; Italy

  • Aosta Valley - ceased
  • Campione d'Italia - ceased
  • Livigno - ceased
  • Livorno, 1675–1860 - ceased
  • Port of Trieste
  • Free Zone of Venice (Porto franco di Venezia)
  • Free Zone of Portovesme
  • Free Zone of Taranto
  • Free Zone of Brindisi
  • Free Zone Of Brindisi – Capobianco

; Latvia

  • Free port of Riga
  • Free port of Ventspils
  • Rezekne SEZ
  • Latgale SEZ - ceased
  • Liepaja SEZ

; Lithuania

  • Akmenė Free Economic Zone - ceased
  • Kaunas Free Economic Zone
  • Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone - ceased
  • Klaipėda Free Economic Zone
  • Marijampolė Free Economic Zone - ceased
  • Panevėžys Free Economic Zone - ceased
  • Šiauliai Free Economic Zone - ceased

; Luxembourg

  • Luxembourg Freeport

; Malta

  • Malta Freeport

; Poland

  • Free Customs Zone Warsaw Airport
  • Free Customs Zone Gliwice
  • Free Duty Zone Terespol
  • Free Customs Zone Szczecin
  • Free Customs Zone Świnoujście
  • Free Customs Zone Gdańsk
  • Free Customs Zone Mszczonów

; Portugal

  • The Free Trade Zone of Madeira, which is composed by the following tax benefits
  • Industrial Free Zone of Caniçal
  • International Business Centre of Madeira
  • International Ship Registry of Madeira

; Romania

  • Port of Constanţa, January 2007
  • Free zone Curtici Arad
  • Free zone Galati
  • Free zone Giurgiu
  • Free zone Braila
  • Free zone Sulina
  • Free zone Constanta Sud si Basarabi

; Slovenia

  • Port of Koper

; Spain

  • Free zone of Barcelona (Zona Franca (Barcelona))
  • Free zone of Cádiz (Zona franca de Cádiz)
  • Free zone of Vigo (Vigo Free Trade Zone Consortium)
  • Free zone of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Zona franca de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
  • Free zone of Santander (Zona franca de Santander)
  • Free zone of Sevilla (Zona franca de Sevilla)
  • Free zone of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Zona franca de Tenerife)
  • Free Zone of the Bay of Algeciras
  • (Ceuta and Melilla 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

  • Marstrand Free Port, 18th century - ceased
  • Saint-Barthélemy, 1785–1878 - ceased
  • Stockholms frihamn, 1919–1995 - ceased
  • Frihamnen, Göteborg, 1922-2000(?) - ceased

Albania

  • Koplik (Albanian Alps)
  • Spitalle (Port of Durrës)

Armenia

  • Meghri

Belarus

  • Brest FEZ
  • Grodno FEZ
  • Mogilev Free Enterprise Zone

Georgia

  • Adjara autonomous republic
  • Batumi, 1878-1886 (then Russia)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Free Zone Trebinje
  • Free zone Hercegovina
  • Free zone Vogosca
  • Free zone Visoko

Moldova

  • Giurgiulești Freeport
  • Expo-Business Chișinău, Chișinău)
  • Ungheni-Business
  • Tvardita
  • Otaci-Business
  • Valkanes
  • Taraclia
  • Free International Airport of Mărculești

Monaco

  • Monaco Freeport

Montenegro

  • Port of Bar Free Zone

North Macedonia

Тechnological–Industrial Development Zones (TIDZs)

  • 12 Free Zones

Russia

  • Nakhodka
  • Vladivostok, 1861–1909, 2015 (Free port of Vladivostok)

Serbia

Serbia has 14 free economic zones as of September 2017; these are:

  • Geneva Cointrin International Airport free port, Geneva
  • PESA - Port-Franc et Entrepôts de Lausanne-Chavornay SA, free port and bonded warehouse, Chavornay (Vaud)
  • SEV - Société des Entrepôts Vevey SA, free port and bonded warehouse, Vevey

Ukraine

  • Free port and free economic zone Odesa
  • 1819-1858
  • Trade sea port of Odesa, January 1, 2000 for 25 years

United Kingdom

  • Anglesey Freeport
  • Celtic Freeport
  • East Midlands Airport Freeport
  • Forth Green Freeport
  • Freeport East
  • Humber Freeport
  • Inverness and Cromarty Firth Freeport
  • Liverpool City Region Freeport
  • Plymouth and South Devon Freeport
  • Solent Free Zone
  • Teesside Freeport
  • Thames Freeport

Gibraltar

  • Port of Gibraltar

Isle of Man

  • Isle of Man Airport (Ballasala)

The Americas

Argentina

Law 19640: Special Customs Area for the Island of Tierra del Fuego

  • Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
  • Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

Law 24331: Free Zones (of Argentina)

  • Zona Franca Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz
  • Zona Franca La Plata, Buenos Aires
  • Zona Franca General Pico, La Pampa Decreto 285/99

The Bahamas

  • Freeport, Grand Bahama

Bermuda

  • Free port of Hamilton Harbour, Hamilton, Bermuda

Brazil

  • Zona Franca de Manaus

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
  • Windsor–Essex
  • Calgary Region Inland Port - FTZ Point

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

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
  • 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