UN/LOCODE: ARCNQ📍 Argentina
Port of Corrientes (UN/LOCODE ARCNQ)
❖ Coordinates: -27.4692°N, -58.8306°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Cordoba
❖ UN/LOCODE: ARCNQ
## About the Port
The Port of **Corrientes** (UN/LOCODE: **ARCNQ**) is a strategic inland river port situated on the western bank of the Paraná River, opposite the city of Santo Tomé in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. Its geographic position at **27.4692131° S, 58.8306349° W** places it within the **America/Cordoba** time zone, providing a natural gateway between the Argentine interior and the Atlantic Ocean via the Río de la Plata basin.
As one of the principal deep‑water terminals on the Upper Paraná, Corrientes handles a diversified cargo mix that includes agricultural bulk (soybeans, corn, wheat), containerized imports, timber, and petrochemical products. The port benefits from a **river depth of 8.5 m (at low water)** and navigable channel widths of up to 150 m, enabling Class III vessels (up to 3 000 t deadweight) to transit year‑round, subject to seasonal water level variations. Its modernized quay infrastructure, combined with an efficient customs regime, makes Corrientes a competitive node in the **South American multimodal logistics network**.
> **Key data**
> - **UN/LOCODE:** ARCNQ
> - **Coordinates:** 27° 28′ 09″ S 58° 49′ 50″ W
> - **River:** Paraná River (Upper Basin)
> - **Time zone:** America/Cordoba (UTC‑03)
---
## History
### Early Development (19th century)
The origins of the Corrientes port trace back to the mid‑1800s when the Argentine government pursued a policy of **riverine integration** to connect the agricultural heartland with the Buenos Aires market. The first rudimentary dockyard was constructed by provincial authorities in 1858 to support steam‑driven flatboats transporting livestock and grain across the Paraná.
### Expansion under the National Waterway Program (1930‑1960)
During the 1930s, the national **Waterways Development Program** (Programa de Obras Hidráulicas) prioritized dredging and levee reinforcement along the Paraná. Corrientes benefited from a series of government‑financed upgrades, including the installation of a **mechanical loading crane (1937)** and the extension of the quay from 150 m to 350 m in 1952.
### Modernization Era (1990‑present)
The late 20th century saw deregulation and private investment. In 1995, the **Port Authority of Corrientes (Autoridad Portuaria de Corrientes)** was created as an autonomous entity, tasked with attracting concessionaires and upgrading facilities to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. A pivotal moment occurred in 2008 when the port received a **US $12 million loan from the Inter‑American Development Bank** for the construction of a state‑of‑the‑art grain terminal, dramatically increasing its handling capacity.
The most recent milestone, completed in 2022, involved the installation of an **electrically powered gantry crane** and a digital customs platform that integrates the **Argentina Customs Information System (SIAT)**, shortening clearance times by up to 30 %.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths and Quays
- **General Cargo Quay:** 2 × 350 m berths with a draught of 8.5 m, equipped with 25‑ton mobile cranes.
- **Grain Terminal:** 1 × 400 m berth, featuring a continuous unload conveyor (capacity 2 500 t h⁻¹) and 4 × 80 t grain elevators.
- **Container Facility:** 1 × 250 m berth fitted with a container gantry crane (30 t LTM) and a 600‑slot yard (20‑ft and 40‑ft containers).
### Storage and Handling
- **Bulk Warehouses:** 45 000 m² of covered space for cereals, oilseeds, and feedstock.
- **Refrigerated (Cold‑Chain) Units:** 8 × 1 000 m³ refrigerated chambers supporting perishable imports such as fruit and meat.
- **Tank Farm:** 5 × 15 000 m³ tanks for liquid petrochemicals and biodiesel, meeting **ISO 14001** environmental management standards.
### Connectivity
- **Road Access:** Linked to National Route 12 (RN 12) and Provincial Route 16, providing direct connections to the National Highway network and the Paraguayan border.
- **Rail Interface:** A **2 km siding** connects the port to the **Ferrocarril General Urquiza** (FGU) network, enabling intermodal transfer of bulk commodities to the central Argentine rail grid.
- **Digital Integration:** Real‑time vessel tracking and cargo manifest exchange are facilitated through the **UN/LOCODE portal** and the **Mercado Integrado de Información Comercial (MIIc)**, enhancing transparency for international shippers.
### Support Services
- **Customs & Inspection:** 24‑hour customs office staffed by the Argentine Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP).
- **Ship‑to‑Shore (STS) Services:** Piloting, towage, and pilotage are provided by locally certified river pilots, with a fleet of 4 × 30 t tugs.
- **Safety & Environmental:** The port maintains an on‑site **Marine Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC)** and a dedicated oil spill response team compliant with the **International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co‑operation (OPRC)**.
---
## Economic Importance
### Regional Trade Engine
Corrientes serves as the **logistical hub for the northeastern Argentine Gran Chaco**, a region that produces more than 40 % of the country’s soy and corn output. In 2023, the port recorded a **total cargo throughput of 7.2 million tonnes**, a 4.8 % increase over the previous year, reflecting expanding agro‑industrial activity and rising demand for feedstock in Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul.
### Employment and GDP Contribution
The port directly employs **≈ 850 skilled workers**—including dockmasters, crane operators, customs officers, and logistics planners—and indirectly supports an additional **≈ 2 500 jobs** in trucking, warehousing, and agribusiness. According to the **National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC)**, Corrientes' maritime activities contribute roughly **0.9 % to the province’s Gross Regional Product (GRP)**, a figure expected to rise as Brazil‑Argentina trade intensifies under the **Mercosur‑EU Economic Partnership Agreement**.
### Investment Attraction
The strategic riverine location, coupled with recent infrastructure upgrades, has attracted **foreign direct investment (FDI)** from multinational agribusiness firms such as **Cargill** and **Bunge**, which have established dedicated export terminals within the port’s perimeter. The Argentine Ministry of Transport projects an additional **US $30 million** in public‑private partnership (PPP) funding through 2030 to expand the container yard and modernize the rail interface.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Core Trade Corridors
- **North‑South Riverine Axis:** Vessels navigate the **Paraná–Uruguay–Río de La Plata system**, linking Corrientes to the Atlantic ports of **Buenos Aires, Rosario, and San Julian**. This corridor supports a continuous flow of bulk agricultural products toward global markets.
- **East‑West Overland Links:** Via RN 12, cargo proceeds to the **Paraguayan border (Ciudad del Este)**, facilitating export of Argentine grains to Paraguayan processing plants and onward to the Pacific via the **Norte Grande railway**.
- **Intermodal Rail Loop:** The FGU siding enables the **“Tri‑Modal Corridor”** (river‑road‑rail) that channels soybeans to the **Port of Rosario** for grain export, while inbound containerized goods travel the inverse route for distribution across Corrientes and neighboring provinces.
### Principal Commodities
| Commodity | Approx. 2023 Volume | Primary Destinations |
|-----------|---------------------|----------------------|
| **Soybeans** | 2.8 Mt | Export to China, EU via Rosario; domestic crushing in Corrientes |
| **Corn** | 1.9 Mt | Brazil, Paraguay (feed), EU markets |
| **Wheat** | 0.7 Mt | Domestic consumption, export to Bolivia |
| **Timber / Pulp** | 0.4 Mt | Brazil’s paper mills, European pulp processors |
| **Petrochemical Products** | 0.3 Mt | Regional refineries in Santa Fe; export to Uruguay |
| **Containerized Goods** | 0.6 Mt (TEU) | Imported machinery, consumer goods, re‑export to interior markets |
The **container terminal** handles a growing share of high‑value goods, with a **throughput of 450 TEU per month** in 2023, reflecting a 12 % increase in demand for automotive parts and electronic equipment from Asian manufacturers.
### Emerging Opportunities
- **Renewable Energy Components:** The port is positioning itself as a gateway for **solar panel imports** destined for the Argentine Northwest, leveraging its cold‑chain facilities for battery logistics.
- **Biofuel Export:** With the expansion of biodiesel plants in Corrientes, the **tank farm** anticipates a 30 % rise in biofuel shipments to the EU, capitalizing on the **International Sustainable Transport (IST) certification**.
---
*For further technical specifications and up‑to‑date traffic statistics, consult the official **UN/LOCODE** database* (https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/)↗ *and the Argentine Ministry of Transport’s annual port performance reports.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ARCNQ
Country
Argentina
Province / Region
Corrientes
Latitude
-27.469213
Longitude
-58.830635
Timezone
America/Cordoba
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Corrientes?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Corrientes is ARCNQ.
Where is Port of Corrientes located?
The Port of Corrientes is located in Argentina, Corrientes. Its coordinates are -27.4692°N, -58.8306°E.
What time zone is Port of Corrientes in?
Port of Corrientes operates in the America/Cordoba time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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