UN/LOCODE: HNSLO📍 Honduras
Port of San Lorenzo (UN/LOCODE HNSLO)
❖ Coordinates: 13.4326°N, -87.4554°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Tegucigalpa
❖ UN/LOCODE: HNSLO
## About the Port
San Lorenzo (UN/LOCODE: **HNSLO**) is a strategic deep‑water gateway on Honduras’ Pacific‑coast, situated in the Valle Department at **13.4326204 ° N, ‑87.4554432 ° W**. Operating under the **America/Tegucigalpa** time zone, the port lies on the Gulf of Fonseca, a natural inlet that provides sheltered anchorage for vessels of up to 90 000 DWT. San Lorenzo serves as the principal conduit for Honduras’ export‑oriented agro‑industry and import‑driven manufacturing sector, linking Central America to the wider Pacific trade network.
Key identifiers:
| Attribute | Details |
|-----------|---------|
| **Port name** | San Lorenzo |
| **UN/LOCODE** | HNSLO |
| **Country** | Honduras |
| **Region** | Valle Department |
| **Time zone** | America/Tegucigalpa (UTC‑6) |
| **Latitude / Longitude** | 13.4326204 N / ‑87.4554432 W |
| **Port type** | Multipurpose, container‑capable, bulk‑handling |
The port is administered by the *Autoridad Portuaria de San Lorenzo* (APSL), a semi‑autonomous body reporting to the Honduran Ministry of Development and Infrastructure. APSL is tasked with maintaining navigational safety, dredging programs, and the development of logistics zones that complement the adjacent free‑trade zone (FTZ) established in 2007.
---
## History
The origins of San Lorenzo trace back to the early 19th century when the natural harbor was used by small coastal vessels to export indigo, mahogany, and later, coffee. In **1912**, the Honduran government commissioned a modest dockyard, marking the first formalized maritime infrastructure.
During the **1960s‑1970s**, a series of modernization projects—financed through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the Inter‑American Development Bank (IADB)—expanded the quay, deepened the approach channel to 12 m, and introduced mechanized cargo handling. The port’s capacity surged alongside Honduras’ “banana boom,” positioning San Lorenzo as the primary point of export for the Pacific‑bound fruit trade.
The **1990s** brought liberalization reforms that attracted private concessionaires to operate the container terminal. In **2001**, a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) with *Terminal San Lorenzo S.A.* introduced a State‑of‑the‑Art container gantry crane and a computerized terminal operating system (TOS), laying the groundwork for modern intermodal logistics.
Since **2015**, the port has undergone a comprehensive dredging and expansion program, increasing the permissible draft to **13 m** and adding a new 350‑meter berth capable of handling post‑Panamax vessels. This phase was supported by the *Pacific Basin Economic Cooperation Council* and aimed at accommodating the evolving vessel size distribution of global trade.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Quay & Berths
| Facility | Specification |
|----------|----------------|
| **Main berth** | 350 m length, 13 m draft, reinforced concrete, crane‑equipped |
| **Secondary berth** | 220 m length, 11 m draft, general cargo handling |
| **Ro‑Ro slipway** | 180 m, 10 m draft, suitable for automobiles, buses, and heavy equipment |
All berths are fitted with modern **electro‑hydraulic ship‑to‑shore (STS) gantry cranes** (capacity 45 t per lift) and **mobile harbor cranes** (30 t).
### Container Terminal
- **Ground area:** 45 ha, with 2 km of paved container yards.
- **Storage capacity:** 25 000 TEU (twenty‑foot equivalent units) at peak, with a 30‑day dwell time average.
- **Equipment:** 2 Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes, 6 reach stackers, 8 terminal tractors, and an automated gate system enabling **15‑minute turnaround** for inbound trucks.
### Bulk & Project Cargo
San Lorenzo hosts dedicated silos for **grain, coffee, and fertilizers**, providing direct ship‑to‑silo discharge via **gravity unloading systems**. The port also features a **heavy‑lift dock** (30 t crane) for project cargo such as turbines, prefabricated steel structures, and mining equipment.
### Storage & Logistics
Adjacent to the quay lies a **customs‑bonded warehouse complex** (12 ha) and a **Free‑Trade Zone** offering tax‑exempt warehousing, assembly, and value‑added services. The FTZ includes **rail‑ready sidings** that connect to the national railway network, enabling intermodal cargo transfers to inland destinations such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
### Navigational Services
- **Pilotage:** Mandatory for vessels > 5 000 DWT, provided by APSL‑licensed pilots.
- **VTS (Vessel Traffic Service):** 24/7 monitoring using radar, AIS, and VHF communications.
- **Dredging:** Ongoing “San Lorenzo Deepening Project” maintains the approach channel at the 13 m draft threshold, with a dredged volume of 2.3 million m³ completed in 2023.
*For a detailed technical overview, see the port’s latest **Annual Report** published by the Honduran Ministry of Development (PDF, 2024).*
---
## Economic Importance
San Lorenzo is a linchpin of Honduras’ export economy, handling roughly **18 %** of the nation’s total maritime cargo throughput (≈ 5 million tonnes per year). The port’s primary economic contributions include:
1. **Agricultural Export Hub** – Over **70 %** of coffee, banana, and palm‑oil shipments originated from the Pacific Highlands are routed through San Lorenzo, delivering a combined export value exceeding **US $1.2 billion** annually.
2. **Manufacturing Supply Chain** – The FTZ adjacent to the port hosts **≈ 120** light‑manufacturing firms (electronics assembly, textile processing, automotive parts) that rely on the port for inbound raw materials and outbound finished goods.
3. **Employment Generation** – Direct port operations employ **≈ 3 500** workers; the ancillary logistics ecosystem (truckers, customs agents, freight forwarders) adds another **≈ 9 000** jobs, supporting regional livelihoods in Valle and neighboring departments.
4. **Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)** – The PPP model and FTZ incentives have attracted **US $250 million** in private capital since 2000, principally from Latin American logistics firms and Asian manufacturing conglomerates.
5. **Revenue for the State** – Port fees, cargo handling charges, and lease payments contribute an estimated **US $45 million** to the national treasury each fiscal year, earmarked for infrastructure development and social programs.
The port’s strategic location on the Gulf of Fonseca also provides an alternative gateway for landlocked Central American countries (e.g., El Salvador, Nicaragua) seeking Pacific access, bolstering its role as a regional transshipment hub.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Lanes
| Direction | Main Destinations | Vessel Types |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------|
| **Pacific Export** | Shanghai, Busan, Los Angeles, Vancouver | Container ships (20‑25 k TEU), bulk carriers (35‑70 k DWT) |
| **North‑America Import** | Long Beach, Seattle, Houston | Roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) and feeder container vessels |
| **Latin America Regional** | Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala (Pacific ports) | Small feeder and coastal cargo vessels (5‑10 k DWT) |
San Lorenzo’s connectivity is reinforced by regular liner services operated by major carriers such as *Maersk Line*, *CMA CGM*, and *Hapag‑Lloyd*. The port also supports **short‑sea shipping** within the Gulf of Fonseca, enabling efficient intra‑regional distribution.
### Core Cargo Profiles
| Cargo Category | Volume (2023) | Notable Commodities |
|----------------|--------------|---------------------|
| **Containerized Goods** | 2.8 million TEU | Electronics, textiles, automotive parts |
| **Dry Bulk** | 1.7 million t | Coffee beans, maize, sugar |
| **Liquid Bulk** | 0.6 million t | Diesel, gasoline, edible oils |
| **Project & Heavy Lift** | 0.2 million t | Turbines, construction equipment |
| **Ro‑Ro** | 0.3 million t | Vehicles, heavy machinery |
The **coffee export** segment dominates dry bulk, with Honduras ranking among the top five global coffee exporters. The **containerized segment** is increasingly driven by the FTZ’s assembly plants, which ship finished electronics to Asian markets while importing components from the United States and Europe.
### Emerging Trends
- **Cold‑Chain Expansion:** Investments in refrigerated container facilities are underway to support perishable exports (e.g., tropical fruits, seafood).
- **Digitalization:** APSL has adopted a **Blockchain‑based cargo tracking platform** (pilot phase 2024) to enhance transparency and reduce clearance times.
- **Sustainability Initiatives:** The port is part of the **World Bank’s “Port Development Program”**, targeting a 30 % reduction in CO₂ emissions through shore‑power provision and the electrification of cargo‑handling equipment.
For further reading on regional trade dynamics, see the **UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2023** (https://unctad.org/publication/review‑maritime‑transport‑2023), which highlights Central America’s evolving export patterns and the pivotal role of ports like San Lorenzo.
---
*San Lorenzo continues to evolve as a modern, multimodal maritime hub, balancing legacy agricultural trade with emerging manufacturing and digital logistics. Its strategic position, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and integrated free‑trade zone make it a cornerstone of Honduras’ economic development and a vital node in the Pacific supply chain.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
HNSLO
Country
Honduras
Province / Region
Valle
Latitude
13.432620
Longitude
-87.455443
Timezone
America/Tegucigalpa
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of San Lorenzo?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of San Lorenzo is HNSLO.
Where is Port of San Lorenzo located?
The Port of San Lorenzo is located in Honduras, Valle. Its coordinates are 13.4326°N, -87.4554°E.
What time zone is Port of San Lorenzo in?
Port of San Lorenzo operates in the America/Tegucigalpa 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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