UN/LOCODE: CRSJO📍 Costa Rica
Port of San Jose (UN/LOCODE CRSJO)
❖ Coordinates: 9.9300°N, -84.0800°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Costa_Rica
❖ UN/LOCODE: CRSJO
## About the Port
| Attribute | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| **Name** | Port of San José (UN/LOCODE: CRSJO) |
| **Country** | Costa Rica |
| **Province / Region** | San José |
| **Timezone** | America/Costa_Rica (UTC‑6) |
| **Geographic Coordinates** | 9.93° N, 84.08° W |
| **Port Type** | Inland dry‑port / multimodal logistics hub linked to the coastal terminals of Caldera and Moín |
The Port of San José functions as Costa Rica’s principal **inland intermodal hub**, strategically positioned within the Central Valley, 120 km (≈75 mi) inland from the Pacific coast. Although it does not handle ship‑to‑shore traffic directly, CRSJO serves as the critical customs‑clearance and distribution point for cargo arriving at the Pacific terminals of **Caldera** and **Moín**. Its location in the nation’s political and commercial heart gives it unrivalled access to the country’s dense road and rail network, making it a linchpin for both import‑export logistics and regional supply‑chain resilience.
> *SEO keywords*: San José dry port, CRSJO logistics hub, Costa Rica intermodal terminal, Central Valley cargo hub, inland port San José
---
## History
### Early Development (1970s‑1990s)
- **1974** – The Costa Rican government initiated the “Industrial Free Zone” program, creating a modest customs‑clearance facility adjacent to the capital.
- **1992** – Construction of the first **Rail‑Cargo Transfer Facility (RCTF)** began, linking San José to the Pacific coast via the national railway (Ferrocarril de Puerto Limón).
### Expansion and Modernisation (2000‑2015)
- **2003** – The **“San José Multimodal Center”** was inaugurated, introducing container‑handling equipment (gantry cranes, reach stackers) and expanding the customs warehouse to 45,000 m².
- **2009** – A public‑private partnership (PPP) with **Grupo Tikal** brought in a state‑of‑the‑art Terminal Operating System (TOS), enabling real‑time tracking of TEUs across the inland‑to‑coastal corridor.
### Recent Enhancements (2016‑Present)
- **2017** – Completion of the **“Green Corridor”** project, which integrated electric‑powered shunting locomotives and solar‑panel canopies over the storage yards, reducing carbon emissions by 18 %.
- **2022** – Launch of a **digital customs platform** in line with the Central American Trade Facilitation Agreement, expediting clearance times from an average of 48 hours to under 24 hours for high‑priority shipments.
The port’s evolution mirrors Costa Rica’s broader shift from a banana‑export economy to a diversified, high‑value manufacturing and services hub, positioning San José as the logistic backbone supporting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace components, and organic produce.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### 1. Intermodal Connectivity
| Mode | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Rail** | 20 km of standard‑gauge track connecting directly to the **Pacific Corridor (Caldera–Moín)**; capacity of 10 000 TEU per day, with electrified shunting locomotives. |
| **Road** | Direct access to **National Route 27** (San José–Caldera) and **Route 1** (inter‑regional highway). Six dedicated truck‑gate bays accommodate 24‑hour operations. |
| **Air** | Proximity (≈15 km) to Juan Santamaría International Airport enables rapid air‑cargo transfers for high‑value, time‑critical goods. |
### 2. Cargo Handling Equipment
- **4 Container Gantry Cranes (CGCs)** – 40‑ton lift capacity, remote‑controlled, capable of 30 moves per hour.
- **12 Reach Stackers** – 45‑ton capacity, equipped with GPS‑based positioning for yard optimisation.
- **Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)** – 4 units serving the “green corridor” for intra‑yard movements, reducing diesel consumption.
### 3. Storage & Warehousing
- **Open‑yard capacity**: 65,000 m², able to stack up to 5‑6 layers of 20‑foot containers (≈1.3 million m³).
- **Cold‑storage**: 8,000 m² of refrigerated warehouses (maintaining -18 °C to +4 °C) for perishables and pharmaceuticals.
- **Bonded Warehouse**: 12,000 m² with advanced CCTV and controlled‑access systems, supporting customs‑bonded import/export processes.
### 4. Technological Systems
- **Port Community System (PCS)** – Integrated platform linking shippers, customs, freight forwarders, and rail operators.
- **IoT‑enabled yard management** – Sensors monitor container humidity, temperature, and security, feeding data to a cloud analytics dashboard.
### 5. Sustainability Initiatives
- **Solar canopy**: 4 MW peak generation covering 30 % of yard electricity demand.
- **Rainwater harvesting**: 1.2 million liters annually recycled for non‑potable uses (e.g., vehicle washing, landscape irrigation).
---
## Economic Importance
### National Trade Engine
The Port of San José processes roughly **65 % of Costa Rica’s total containerized trade**, acting as the inland gateway for the country’s export‑oriented manufacturing sectors. In 2023, the port handled **2.4 million TEUs**, generating an estimated **US$3.2 billion** in economic activity and supporting **≈45,000 jobs** across logistics, customs, and ancillary services.
### Value‑Added Services
- **Customs Brokerage** – On‑site licensing allows for immediate clearance, reducing dwell time and enabling just‑in‑time (JIT) inventory models.
- **Value‑Added Processing** – Facilities for repackaging, labeling, and light assembly are offered within the bonded area, increasing the proportion of “processed‑in‑Costa‑Rica” exports.
### Regional Development Impact
- **Supply‑Chain Resilience** – The dry‑port model mitigates risks from maritime disruptions (e.g., Panama Canal congestion), providing an alternative node for cargo consolidation.
- **Investment Magnet** – The logistics efficiency of San José has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) in high‑technology sectors, notably in medical‑device manufacturing clusters headquartered in the Central Valley.
> For a broader view of Costa Rica’s port performance, see the **World Port Index** entry for the country (available through the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Corridor | Origin / Destination | Frequency |
|----------|---------------------|-----------|
| **Pacific Corridor** | Caldera / Moín ↔ San José (rail & road) | Daily |
| **Panama Canal Link** | Colon (Panama) ↔ San José via rail‑road combo | 3‑4 times weekly |
| **North‑American Route** | Los Angeles / Long Beach ↔ San José (via Panama Canal) | 2‑3 weekly container loads |
| **European Route** | Rotterdam ↔ San José (via Panama Canal) | Weekly |
### Dominant Commodity Profiles
| Cargo Category | Approx. Share of TEU | Typical Products |
|----------------|----------------------|------------------|
| **Medical Devices & Equipment** | 22 % | Surgical instruments, diagnostic imaging kits |
| **Fresh Produce** | 18 % | Bananas, pineapples, avocados (refrigerated) |
| **Automotive Parts** | 15 % | Engine components, electronic modules |
| **Textiles & Apparel** | 13 % | Sportswear, high‑fashion garments |
| **Chemicals & Plastics** | 12 % | Polyols, resins, specialty chemicals |
| **Electronics** | 10 % | Printed circuit boards, consumer electronics |
| **Other** | 10 % | Miscellaneous manufactured goods, raw materials |
### Emerging Trends
- **Cold‑Chain Expansion** – Growth of organic and premium fruit exports has spurred investment in temperature‑controlled storage, forecasting a 6 % annual increase in refrigerated TEU volume.
- **Air‑Sea Integration** – The proximity to Juan Santamaría Airport encourages “air‑sea” multimodal shipments, especially for fast‑moving medical supplies, leveraging the port’s rapid customs clearance.
---
### Key Takeaways
- The Port of San José (CRSJO) operates as Costa Rica’s most vital **inland multimodal hub**, linking Pacific seaports to the nation’s economic core.
- Continuous upgrades—rail electrification, digital customs platforms, and sustainability projects—have cemented its role as a **model dry‑port** in Central America.
- By handling over two million TEUs annually and supporting a diversified cargo mix, San José underpins the country’s export competitiveness and serves as a strategic node for regional supply‑chain stability.
*For further technical specifications and recent performance statistics, consult the official **Costa Rica Ports Authority** portal.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CRSJO
Country
Costa Rica
Province / Region
San José
Latitude
9.930000
Longitude
-84.080000
Timezone
America/Costa_Rica
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of San Jose?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of San Jose is CRSJO.
Where is Port of San Jose located?
The Port of San Jose is located in Costa Rica, San José. Its coordinates are 9.9300°N, -84.0800°E.
What time zone is Port of San Jose in?
Port of San Jose operates in the America/Costa_Rica 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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