UN/LOCODE: ITMIL📍 Italy

Port of Milano (UN/LOCODE ITMIL)

❖ Coordinates: 45.4654°N, 9.1859°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Rome

❖ UN/LOCODE: ITMIL

## About the Port The Port of Milano (UN/LOCODE: **ITMIL**) is Italy’s premier **inland port** and a critical node within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Unlike traditional seaports, ITMIL functions as a **dry port** and **intermodal logistics hub**, situated approximately 500 kilometers from the nearest coastline. Strategically positioned in the Lombardy region at coordinates 45.4654° N, 9.1859° E, it serves as the primary gateway for containerized cargo entering and exiting the Po Valley—Europe’s most densely industrialized macro-region. Operating within the Central European Time (CET/CEST) zone, the facility is managed by **Terminali Italia** (a subsidiary of the FS Italiane Group) in conjunction with private terminal operators. It holds the status of a **Core Network Node** on the Rhine–Alpine and Mediterranean TEN-T Corridors, facilitating seamless modal shift between road, rail, and inland waterway (via the Navigli canal system and connections to the Po River). Its core mandate is decongesting Alpine transit routes by consolidating long-haul rail freight destined for Northern Italian manufacturing clusters. ## History The concept of a "Port of Milan" traces back to the **Navigli canal system**, engineered from the 12th century onward to connect the city to the Ticino and Adda rivers, effectively linking Milan to the Adriatic and Po Valley trade networks. However, the modern intermodal entity emerged from the **post-war industrial boom** of the 1950s and 60s, which overwhelmed the city's historic rail yards (Porta Romana, Greco, Rogoredo). A pivotal milestone was the establishment of the **Interporto di Milano** in the 1970s at the Greco Pirelli and Rogoredo freight yards, formalizing the separation of freight from passenger traffic. The 1990s saw the liberalization of the European rail market (Directive 91/440/EEC), prompting the transformation of these yards into dedicated **intermodal terminals** capable of handling swap bodies, containers, and semi-trailers (Rolling Highway/Rola). The 2000s brought infrastructure modernization: the quadrupling of the Milan–Bologna high-speed line freed capacity on the traditional line for freight, while the **Gotthard Base Tunnel** opening (2016) drastically reduced transit times to Rotterdam and Antwerp. Today, ITMIL operates as a "Virtual Port" entity, integrating the physical terminals of **Milano Smistamento**, **Milano Rogoredo**, **Milano Greco Pirelli**, and the **Melzo (MiLog)** logistics park into a single customs and logistics zone. ## Infrastructure & Facilities The Port of Milano comprises a distributed network of specialized terminals rather than a single contiguous quay. ### Rail Terminals & Capacity * **Milano Smistamento (Sorting Yard):** The largest marshalling yard in Italy, handling block train formation/decomposition for the Northern Italian network. Equipped with hump shunting technology and automated track brakes. * **Milano Rogoredo & Greco Pirelli:** Primary **intermodal terminals** for container/Ro-Ro operations. Combined annual throughput capacity exceeds **800,000 TEU**. They feature reach stackers, RMG (Rail Mounted Gantry) cranes, and dedicated tracks for 750m block trains (P400 profile). * **Melzo (MiLog):** Located 15km east, this 1.2 million sqm logistics park hosts dedicated terminals for major integrators and automotive OEMs, offering value-added services (VAS) like pre-delivery inspection (PDI) and sequencing. ### Connectivity & Digitalization The port is a pilot for **ERTMS/ETCS Level 2** deployment on the conventional network, ensuring interoperability with Swiss and German corridors. Customs clearance is facilitated via the **AIDA (Automazione Integrata Dogane Accise)** system and the **Maritime Single Window** interface, allowing pre-arrival declarations for containers arriving from Genoa, La Spezia, and Venice. The facility maintains **AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)** certified warehousing, including temperature-controlled zones for pharma and food logistics. ## Economic Importance ITMIL is the logistics engine of the **Lombardy region**, which generates approx. **22% of Italian GDP**. The port directly employs over 3,500 personnel across terminal operations, freight forwarding, and customs brokerage, with an induced employment multiplier estimated at 1:4 in the broader supply chain. It serves as the primary import/export interface for strategic sectors: * **Fashion & Luxury:** Just-in-time delivery of raw materials (textiles, leather) and distribution of finished goods for the "Quadrilatero della Moda" cluster. * **Automotive & Machinery:** Inbound components for the Stellantis/Ferrari supply chains and outbound capital goods (machine tools, packaging machinery) bound for global markets. * **Pharma & Chemical:** Temperature-controlled rail corridors from Basel/Rotterdam hubs. Modal share targets set by the **Piano Generale dei Trasporti e della Logistica (PGTL)** aim to shift 30% of Alpine freight to rail by 2030; ITMIL currently handles a rail modal split of roughly **18-20%** for its hinterland, significantly above the national average. The port authority estimates an annual cargo value throughput exceeding **€120 billion**. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Core Rail Corridors ITMIL is the southern terminus for two critical TEN-T axes: 1. **Rhine–Alpine Corridor:** Rotterdam/Antwerp → Basel → **Chiasso/Luino** → Milano. This route handles ~60% of container volume, dominated by deep-sea import/export (FEU/TEU) and intra-European swap bodies. 2. **Mediterranean Corridor:** East-West flow linking **Trieste/Venice** (Far East/India Suez traffic) and **Genoa/La Spezia** (Transatlantic/Mediterranean traffic) via the Milan–Bologna–Verona high-capacity line. ### Rolling Highway (Ro-La) A distinguishing feature is the **Rolling Highway** service (Alptransit/RAlpin) operating via the Gotthard and Lötschberg base tunnels. Semi-trailers (P400/P385 profiles) are loaded onto low-floor wagons at **Fribourg, Basel, or Novara** and shuttled to Milano Smistamento/Rogoredo. This bypasses Alpine truck bans and driver shortages, moving ~150,000 truck equivalents annually. ### Cargo Profile (Annual Estimates) | Cargo Type | Volume Share | Key Origins/Destinations | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Containerized (TEU)** | ~55% | Far East (via Suez/Genova), North Europe (via Rotterdam), Turkey (via Trieste) | | **Swap Bodies / Trailers (Ro-La)** | ~30% | Germany, Benelux, Switzerland, Northern Italy domestic | | **Automotive (Finished Vehicles)** | ~8% | Stellantis plants (Melfi, Pomigliano) → Northern EU ports; Imports via Koper/Trieste | | **Bulk / Project Cargo** | ~7% | Steel coils (Taranto/Genoa), Machinery, Construction materials | The port handles a significant volume of **reefer containers** (pharma, fresh produce) and **ADR/Dangerous Goods** (chemical intermediates), requiring specialized storage bays at Rogoredo and Melzo. As the **European Green Deal** drives modal shift, ITMIL is slated for capacity expansion via the **"Quadruplicazione Rho-Parabiago"** project, adding dedicated freight tracks to saturate the Gotthard corridor capacity. > **Authoritative References:** > * European Commission, *TEN-T Core Network Corridors: Rhine-Alpine & Mediterranean Studies* (ec.europa.eu/transport/infrastructure/tentec) > * Unioninterport / Interporto di Milano, *Official Statistics & Infrastructure Masterplan* (unioninterport.it)

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

ITMIL

Country

Italy

Province / Region

Lombardy

Latitude

45.465422

Longitude

9.185924

Timezone

Europe/Rome

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Milano?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Milano is ITMIL.

Where is Port of Milano located?

The Port of Milano is located in Italy, Lombardy. Its coordinates are 45.4654°N, 9.1859°E.

What time zone is Port of Milano in?

Port of Milano operates in the Europe/Rome 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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