UN/LOCODE: ECGYE📍 Ecuador
Port of Guayaquil (UN/LOCODE ECGYE)
❖ Coordinates: -2.1700°N, -79.9000°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Guayaquil
❖ UN/LOCODE: ECGYE
## About the Port
Guayaquil (UN/LOCODE: **ECGYE**) is Ecuador’s principal seaport and the busiest gateway on the Pacific coast of South America. Situated in the city of Guayaquil, Guayas Province, the port lies at **2.17° S, 79.90° W** and operates on **America/Guayaquil** time (UTC‑5). Its strategic position at the mouth of the Guayas River grants deep‑water access to the Pacific Ocean while serving a hinterland that stretches across the Andes, the Amazon basin, and the Andean highlands. The port’s modern container terminals, bulk facilities, and multi‑modal connections make it a critical hub for both import‑export trade and regional logistics.
### Geographic and Operational Context
- **Latitude/Longitude:** –2.17, –79.9
- **Timezone:** UTC‑5 (America/Guayaquil)
- **Port Authority:** Autoridad Portuaria de Guayaquil (APG)
- **Primary Services:** Containerized cargo, general cargo, bulk commodities, cruise tourism, and naval support
Guayaquil’s natural deep channel (average depth ≈ 12 m, dredged to 14 m at the berths) accommodates Panamax and post‑Panamax vessels up to 13,000 TEU. The port benefits from a maritime climate with a mean annual temperature of 24 °C and minimal seasonal variation, ensuring reliable year‑round operations.
---
## History
The origins of Guayaquil’s port trace back to the early 16th century when Spanish explorers first used the Guayas River estuary as an anchorage for treasure fleets. Formalized trade began in the 18th century under the Viceroyalty of New Granada, with the city emerging as a regional export point for cacao, coffee, and cattle hides.
- **1820:** Guayaquil declared independence from Spain, prompting the first modern customs house.
- **1900‑1930:** Construction of the first quay and rail link to the inland railway network (Ferrocarril Central del Ecuador) expanded the port’s hinterland reach.
- **1965:** The Guayaquil Port Authority was established, centralizing management of berthing, cargo handling, and maritime safety.
- **1992‑1998:** Liberalization of Ecuador’s trade regime and the rise of containerization triggered a major expansion, including the inauguration of the “Terminal de Carga Contenedorizada” (TCC) with a 1,500‑meter berth.
- **2009‑2015:** A public‑private partnership (PPP) with a multinational terminal operator introduced state‑of‑the‑art gantry cranes, automated stackers, and a digital terminal operating system (TOS).
These milestones positioned Guayaquil as a modern, container‑enabled port, capable of handling the surge in trans‑Pacific trade that characterized the early 21st century.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Container Terminals
| Feature | Specification |
|---------|----------------|
| Berths | 3 deep‑water container berths (12‑14 m draft) |
| Cranes | 6 Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes (30 m outreach) |
| Yard Space | 850,000 m² of ground‑storage, 2,500 TEU ground slots |
| Equipment | Automated rubber‑tyred gantry (ARTG) straddle carriers, 9 rail‑mounted reach stackers |
| ICT | Integrated TOS, real‑time vessel tracking, and customs e‑clearance (UCP‑300 compliant) |
The container complex is linked to a 10‑km rail spur feeding the national railway network, enabling intermodal transfers to inland terminals in Quito, Cuenca, and the Amazon corridor.
### General & Bulk Cargo Facilities
- **General Cargo Quay (Berth 4):** 2 × 250 m berths, equipped with mobile cranes (30‑ton capacity) for break‑bulk goods such as machinery, timber, and project cargo.
- **Grain & Fertilizer Terminal:** Dedicated silos (capacity ≈ 150,000 t) with conveyor belts and ship loaders for soybeans, corn, and urea.
- **Petroleum Jetty:** 2 deep‑water berths (draft ≈ 13 m) serving crude oil and refined products, featuring double‑bottom loading arms and offshore storage tanks.
### Supporting Infrastructure
- **Road Access:** The “Mártires de la Revolución” highway (E-20) provides a direct link to the Pan‑American Highway, while the expansion of the Guayaquil Ring Road reduces congestion for freight trucks.
- **Customs & Security:** APG operates a 24‑hour Customs Clearance Center with non‑intrusive inspection (NII) scanners and a port‑state control (PSC) office aligned with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
- **Cruise Terminal:** A dedicated passenger pier handles up to 400,000 cruise passengers annually, supporting Guayaquil’s tourism sector.
The port’s continuous investment program (USD ≈ $250 million from 2018‑2023) targets dredging to maintain a 14 m draft, expansion of container yard capacity, and the deployment of green technologies such as shore‑power (cold ironing) for berthed vessels.
---
## Economic Importance
Guayaquil port accounts for **≈ 80 % of Ecuador’s total maritime trade**, translating into a direct annual cargo throughput of over **25 million TEU** and **45 million tons** of bulk cargo. The port’s economic impact can be quantified across three core dimensions:
1. **National Trade Balance:**
- **Exports:** Bananas (≈ 30 % of national export value), shrimp, cacao, and oil.
- **Imports:** Machinery, automobiles, consumer electronics, and petroleum products.
2. **Employment & Revenue Generation:**
- **Direct Jobs:** ≈ 12,000 port‑related positions (dockworkers, terminal operators, logistics providers).
- **Indirect Jobs:** > 50,000 roles in warehousing, transportation, and ancillary services.
- **Fiscal Contribution:** Port activities generate ≈ US$1.2 billion in annual tax revenues and customs duties.
3. **Regional Development:**
- The port underpins the **Guayas industrial corridor**, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in agro‑industrial processing, petrochemicals, and manufacturing.
- Logistics clusters around the port have spurred the growth of free‑trade zones (Zonas Francas), offering duty‑free storage and streamlined export procedures.
These factors collectively position Guayaquil as a linchpin of Ecuador’s economic diversification strategy, facilitating the country’s integration into the Pacific Alliance and the broader Asia‑Pacific trade network.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Pacific Trade Corridor
Guayaquil serves as a primary node on the **Asia‑Pacific – West Coast of the Americas** corridor. Regular liner services connect the port to major Asian hubs such as **Shanghai, Busan, Singapore, and Hong Kong**, with transit times ranging from 18 to 24 days. The Panama Canal’s expansion (2020) has further boosted east‑bound traffic, allowing post‑Panamax vessels to transit directly to the Atlantic.
### Trans‑Atlantic & Inter‑Regional Links
Despite its Pacific orientation, Guayaquil maintains robust **Trans‑Atlantic links** via the Panama Canal, linking to European (Rotterdam, Antwerp) and North American (New York, Savannah) markets. The port is also a critical gateway for **inland waterways**—cargo from the Amazon region is funneled downstream to Guayaquil via river barges, expanding the port’s catchment to an estimated **2.5 million km²** of Ecuadorian territory.
### Dominant Cargo Profiles
| Cargo Type | Approx. Annual Volume | Key Markets |
|------------|----------------------|-------------|
| **Bananas** | 2.1 million tons | EU (Spain, Netherlands), US |
| **Shrimp** | 350,000 tons | USA, EU, Asia |
| **Crude Oil & Refined Products** | 6.5 million tons | Domestic distribution, export to Peru |
| **Containerized Manufactured Goods** | 23 million TEU | US, China, Japan, South Korea |
| **Grain (Soy, Corn)** | 4.2 million tons | Domestic animal feed, export to Brazil |
| **Chemicals & Fertilizers** | 1.1 million tons | Regional agriculture sector |
The cargo mix reflects Ecuador’s dual role as a **primary commodity exporter (agri‑food, hydrocarbons)** and an **import hub for industrial inputs and consumer goods**. The port’s handling efficiency—averaging **1.4 hours per container move**—places it among the top-performing Latin American ports, as reported by the **World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index**.
### Emerging Trade Opportunities
- **Cold‑Chain Logistics:** The rise of high‑value perishable exports (avocados, exotic fruits) is prompting investments in refrigerated container handling and temperature‑controlled warehousing.
- **Renewable Energy Equipment:** With Ecuador’s push for hydro‑ and solar‑power projects, Guayaquil is becoming a conduit for turbine components, batteries, and PV panels destined for inland installation sites.
These trends are driving a re‑evaluation of terminal capacities and prompting the adoption of **digital twin** simulations to optimize berth allocation and yard management.
---
*For further technical specifications and real‑time vessel data, consult the United Nations’ World Port Index (*[UN World Port Index – Guayaquil]*[https://maritime.org/portguide/ecu/gua.htm])* and the Ecuadorian Port Authority’s official portal (*[Autoridad Portuaria de Guayaquil]*[https://www.apg.gob.ec]*).*
---
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ECGYE
Country
Ecuador
Province / Region
Guayas
Latitude
-2.170000
Longitude
-79.900000
Timezone
America/Guayaquil
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
Loading Map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Guayaquil?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Guayaquil is ECGYE.
Where is Port of Guayaquil located?
The Port of Guayaquil is located in Ecuador, Guayas. Its coordinates are -2.1700°N, -79.9000°E.
What time zone is Port of Guayaquil in?
Port of Guayaquil operates in the America/Guayaquil time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height m
Wave Direction°
Swell Height m
Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API
Scanning Local Infrastructure...
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.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Guayaquil.
Chanduy
Ecuador • 90 km awayMonteverde
Ecuador • 92 km awayLa Libertad
Ecuador • 111 km awayPuerto Bolivar
Ecuador • 123 km away