UN/LOCODE: SVLUN📍 El Salvador
Port of La Union (UN/LOCODE SVLUN)
❖ Coordinates: 13.3323°N, -87.8501°E
❖ Time Zone: America/El_Salvador
❖ UN/LOCODE: SVLUN
## About the Port
The Port of La Unión (UN/LOCODE: SVLUN) is a strategic deep-water Pacific gateway located in the department of La Unión, El Salvador, at coordinates 13.3323464° N, -87.8500644° W. Operating within the America/El_Salvador timezone (UTC−6), the port sits on the western shore of the Gulf of Fonseca, a sheltered bay shared with Honduras and Nicaragua. As one of the two principal seaports of El Salvador—alongside the Pacific port of Acajutla—La Unión serves as a critical node in the Central American logistical corridor, providing maritime access for the eastern provinces of El Salvador and the inland regions of neighboring Honduras and Nicaragua. The port is administered by the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA), the autonomous state port authority responsible for regulatory oversight and infrastructure development (CEPA Official Site↗). Its UN/LOCODE registration under SVLUN confirms standardized identification within global shipping and customs networks.
The port’s geographic position offers a natural harbor with minimal tidal variance and protection from open-ocean swells, making it suitable for year-round operations. With a hinterland connected via the Pan-American Highway and the CA-1 corridor, La Unión functions as a multimodal hub despite the absence of a fully developed rail link. The terminal primarily handles containerized freight, dry and liquid bulk, and general cargo, supporting both import substitution and export-oriented industries.
## History
The maritime history of La Unión traces back to colonial-era anchorage in the Gulf of Fonseca, but the modern port complex is a product of late 20th-century infrastructure planning. In response to saturation at Acajutla and the need to decentralize El Salvador’s port capacity, the government initiated the “Puerto de La Unión” project in the 1990s. Construction of the deep-water terminal was executed by CEPA with multilateral financing, and the facility was formally inaugurated in the mid-2000s as a greenfield port designed to accommodate Panamax-class vessels.
Throughout the 2010s, the port underwent phased expansions, including dredging of approach channels to maintain a channel depth of 12 meters and the addition of specialized berths for petroleum derivatives. The creation of the La Unión Free Trade Zone (ZOLI) adjacent to the port reinforced its role as a maquiladora and distribution platform. In subsequent years, discussions emerged regarding public-private partnership concessions for container terminal operations to increase efficiency and attract global shipping lines. The port’s evolution reflects El Salvador’s broader strategy to integrate into the Pacific Alliance and global value chains.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Quay and Berthing
The Port of La Unión features a linear quay system with multiple berths totaling approximately 600 meters of alongside length. The main container berth provides a permissible draft of up to 12.0 meters at mean low water, enabling vessels of 50,000–60,000 DWT to dock. Fender systems and mooring bollards are rated for continuous tropical operations. The turning basin exceeds 400 meters in diameter, facilitating safe navigation from the Gulf of Fonseca.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
Terminal operators deploy post-Panamax gantry cranes, rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes, and reach stackers for container yards. Bulk handling is supported by grab cranes, conveyor systems for grains and fertilizers, and pneumatic unloading for cement. Tugboat services are provided by CEPA-owned azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs with bollard pull exceeding 40 tons.
### Storage and Yard
The port offers more than 20 hectares of paved container yard, with a capacity surpassing 15,000 TEU including reefer plugs. Covered warehouses provide 30,000 square meters for general cargo, while dedicated tank farms store imported fuels with a combined capacity of 50,000 cubic meters. A specialized fertilizer depot serves the agricultural hinterland.
### Navigation Aids and Connectivity
The approach channel is marked by IALA-compliant buoys and a radar-based vessel traffic service (VTS). Pilotage is compulsory, with boarding stations at the gulf entrance. Road connectivity is provided by the CA-2 and CA-1 highways; although no direct rail spur exists, inland container depots in San Miguel and San Salvador provide intermodal links.
## Economic Importance
The Port of La Unión is a cornerstone of El Salvador’s maritime economy, contributing an estimated 2–3% of national GDP through direct port operations, logistics services, and associated industries. It generates several thousand direct and indirect jobs in stevedoring, customs brokerage, and transport. By offering an alternative to Acajutla, the port reduces congestion and lowers logistics costs for exporters in the eastern region, particularly for manufacturing, agriculture, and energy sectors.
Regionally, La Unión acts as a sub-regional gateway for Honduras’ southern departments and Nicaragua’s northern provinces, fostering cross-border trade under Central American Integration System (SICA) frameworks. The adjacent ZOLI free zone attracts foreign direct investment in assembly and distribution, leveraging the port’s bonded transit procedures. Moreover, the port enhances energy security by handling liquefied petroleum gas and fuel oil imports that supply thermal power plants. Its continued modernization is vital for El Salvador’s compliance with IMO emissions standards and customs digitalization.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Main Shipping Lanes
Vessels departing La Unión transit the Gulf of Fonseca, exit via the Pacific approach, and connect to major liner services on the trans-Pacific route. The principal corridors link the port to the United States West Coast (Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland), the Mexican ports of Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas, and the Panama Canal for onward routing to the U.S. East Coast and Caribbean. Asian connectivity is maintained through transshipment at Balboa or Mexican hubs, while intra-Central American cabotage services call weekly. The port is listed in the UN/LOCODE directory as SVLUN, ensuring seamless integration with electronic data interchange (EDI) systems used by carriers (UN LOCODE Database↗).
### Commodity Profile
Major imports include refined fuels, bulk fertilizers, wheat and yellow corn, cement clinker, and manufactured inputs for maquiladoras. Export flows are dominated by coffee, sugar, textiles, seafood (shrimp and tuna), and light industrial goods. Containerized throughput has grown steadily, with annual volumes estimated at 200,000–300,000 TEU, complemented by 1.5–2.0 million metric tons of dry bulk. The port also accommodates project cargo for renewable energy installations, such as wind turbine components, reflecting shifting regional demand.
The Port of La Unión (SVLUN) stands as a pivotal Pacific maritime asset for El Salvador and Northern Central America. Its deep-draft infrastructure, strategic Gulf of Fonseca location, and integration with free-trade zones position it to support expanding international commerce and regional supply chain resilience.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
SVLUN
Country
El Salvador
Province / Region
La Union
Latitude
13.332346
Longitude
-87.850064
Timezone
America/El_Salvador
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of La Union?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of La Union is SVLUN.
Where is Port of La Union located?
The Port of La Union is located in El Salvador, La Union. Its coordinates are 13.3323°N, -87.8501°E.
What time zone is Port of La Union in?
Port of La Union operates in the America/El_Salvador 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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