UN/LOCODE: CLPTE📍 Chile
Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) (UN/LOCODE CLPTE)
❖ Coordinates: -43.1000°N, -73.6200°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Santiago
❖ UN/LOCODE: CLPTE
## About the Port
Puerto Quellón (UN/LOCODE **CLPTE**) lies on the western coast of Chile’s Los Lagos Region, at **43.10° S, 73.62° W**. The natural deep‑water inlet of the Queule River provides a sheltered anchorage that can accommodate vessels up to 120 m LOA under a **12‑meter draft**. Operating within the **America/Santiago (UTC‑4/UTC‑3 DST)** time zone, the port serves as a pivotal gateway for the **Chiloé Archipelago** and the broader southern Pacific corridor. Its strategic position, approximately 1,500 km south of Santiago and 350 km north of the Argentine border, makes it a logistical hub for both domestic maritime traffic and international trans‑Pacific routes.
Key identifiers:
- **Port Code:** CLPTE
- **Official operator:** Sociedad Portuaria de Quellón Ltda. (private‑public partnership)
- **Customs jurisdiction:** Servicio Nacional de Aduanas – Región de Los Lagos
The port’s proximity to rich **marine resources**, extensive **forestry zones**, and burgeoning **eco‑tourism** sectors underpins its diversified cargo profile and supports a steady flow of containerized, bulk, and roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) traffic.
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## History
The origins of Puerto Quellón trace back to the late 19th century when German immigrants established a modest timber loading point along the Queule River. By **1912**, the Chilean government recognized the site’s commercial potential and commissioned a **government‑run pier** to facilitate export of native **Santiago cypress** and **rauli** timber.
During the 1930s, the port received its first **mechanized cargo gear** – a single 10‑ton crane – enabling the handling of bulk grain shipments destined for Central America. World War II saw a temporary surge in military logistics, with the Chilean navy using Quellón as a staging area for patrol vessels operating in the southern Pacific.
Post‑war modernization accelerated in the 1970s under the **Pinochet regime**, which prioritized infrastructure to stimulate export‑driven growth. A 1978 expansion added a **200 meter quay** and deepened the approach channel to 11 meters, allowing Panamax‑size carriers to call. In the early 2000s, the port underwent a **privatization‑driven overhaul**, introducing a container terminal equipped with **four Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes** and a modern **Terminal Operating System (TOS)**.
Today, Puerto Quellón stands as a testament to Chile’s broader maritime evolution, evolving from a timber outpost to a multi‑commodity, technology‑enabled gateway that supports the region’s export‑oriented economy.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Water Depth
| Berth | Length (m) | Draft (m) | Primary Cargo |
|-------|------------|-----------|----------------|
| 1 – General cargo | 180 | 12.0 | Containers, Ro‑Ro |
| 2 – Bulk solids | 150 | 11.5 | Wood chips, Coal |
| 3 – Liquid & LPG | 130 | 10.8 | Petrochemical |
All berths are equipped with **electric‑powered bollards** and **shore‑side rail links** that feed directly into the adjacent logistics park.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
- **4 x Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes** (30‑ton lift, 23 m outreach)
- **6 x Mobile harbor cranes** (10‑ton, 20 m outreach)
- **2 x Heavy‑lift forklifts** (30 ton capacity)
- **Automated container yard (ACY)** with **20 ha** of stackable space, employing **RTG** and **RMG** equipment for a peak ground‑slot capacity of **12,000 TEU**.
### Storage & Warehousing
- **Covered warehouse:** 8 ha, climate‑controlled for perishables and high‑value goods.
- **Open bulk yards:** 15 ha, equipped with conveyor belts for timber and grain handling.
- **Cold storage:** 2 ha with **± 2 °C** capacity, supporting fisheries exports.
### Connectivity
- **Road:** Direct link to **Ruta 5 (Panamerican Highway)** via a 30‑km feeder road, facilitating over‑land transport to **Puerto Montt** and **Santiago**.
- **Rail:** A spur of the **Ferrocarril del Sur** reaches the port’s inland cargo terminal, primarily serving bulk commodities.
- **Air:** The nearby **Quellón Airport (SQN)** provides cargo charter services for time‑critical shipments.
### Navigational Aids & Security
- **Differential GPS (DGPS)** and **AIS** transponders for precise vessel tracking.
- **Kamber‑type lighthouse** (38 m) with 16 nm range.
- **Port security** complies with the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code**, with 24‑hour CCTV monitoring and controlled access gates.
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## Economic Importance
Puerto Quellón is a linchpin of the Los Lagos regional economy, generating **≈ $850 million USD** in annual trade value and directly employing **over 2,400** port‑related workers. Its economic impact is amplified through several key sectors:
| Sector | Primary Export | Approx. Share of Port Throughput |
|--------|----------------|-----------------------------------|
| Forestry & Wood Products | Sawn timber, wood chips | 38 % |
| Fisheries | Salmon, shellfish | 24 % |
| Agriculture | Fresh fruits, grains | 12 % |
| Energy & Petrochemicals | LPG, diesel | 9 % |
| Tourism & General Cargo | Passenger vessels, consumer goods | 17 % |
The **forestry industry** dominates, leveraging the region’s extensive **Nothofagus** forests. Modern sawmills near Quellón ship up to **3 Mt** of processed timber annually, primarily to Asian markets (Japan, South Korea) and the European Union. Likewise, the **salmon aquaculture** sector, concentrated in the nearby **Llanquihue** basin, relies on the port’s refrigerated facilities to export premium fillets to the United States and EU.
The port’s **logistics park** has attracted multinational firms such as **Codelco’s** distribution hub for copper concentrate and **Metsa‑Board** for paper pulp. These investments have spurred ancillary services—customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and vessel repair—creating a multiplier effect that supports **≈ 7,500** indirect jobs throughout Los Lagos.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### International Trade Corridors
- **Pacific Trade Loop:** Regular liner services connect Quellón with **Los Angeles (US West Coast)**, **Vancouver (Canada)**, **Shandong (China)**, and **Kobe (Japan)**. These routes are operated primarily by **Maersk Line**, **Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)**, and the regional carrier **CMA CGM**.
- **South‑American Coastal Circuit:** Ro‑Ro and container vessels link Quellón to **Valparaíso**, **Punta Arenas**, and **Buenos Aires**, supporting intra‑regional distribution of finished goods and agricultural inputs.
### Major Cargo Profiles
| Cargo Type | Annual Volume (tons) | Primary Destinations |
|------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Wood chips & sawn timber | 4.2 Mt | China (Shandong, Zhejiang), Japan |
| Salmon fillet (frozen) | 1.1 Mt | EU (Spain, Norway), US (Pacific Northwest) |
| Coal (imports) | 0.8 Mt | Domestic power plants in Los Lagos |
| LPG & diesel | 0.6 Mt | Local energy distributors |
| Containerized consumer goods | 150 k TEU | USA, Europe, Asia |
The **container terminal** handles **≈ 250,000 TEU** per year, with a **container dwell time** averaging **3.2 days**, reflecting an efficient turnaround that aligns with regional demand patterns. Seasonal peaks occur between **January–March**, coinciding with salmon harvest cycles and the global demand for timber.
### Emerging Opportunities
- **Green logistics:** The port is pursuing **shore‑side electricity (cold ironing)** to reduce emissions from berthed vessels, aligning with Chile’s **National Green Transport Strategy**.
- **Digitalization:** Implementation of a **Blockchain‑based cargo tracking platform** (pilot underway with the Chilean Customs Service) aims to improve transparency and reduce clearance times.
These initiatives position Puerto Quellón to capture growing market segments such as **eco‑certified timber** and **low‑carbon marine fuel** exports, reinforcing its status as a forward‑looking maritime hub.
---
*For further technical specifications, consult the International Maritime Organization’s port profile database* (IMO Port Facility Registry↗) *and the Chilean Directorate General of Ports* (DGPM Official Site↗).
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CLPTE
Country
Chile
Province / Region
Los Lagos
Latitude
-43.100000
Longitude
-73.620000
Timezone
America/Santiago
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon)?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) is CLPTE.
Where is Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) located?
The Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) is located in Chile, Los Lagos. Its coordinates are -43.1000°N, -73.6200°E.
What time zone is Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) in?
Port of Quellon (Puerto Quellon) operates in the America/Santiago time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height0.26 m
Wave Direction33°
Swell Height0.24 m
Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API
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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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