UN/LOCODE: JPTKY📍 Japan
Port of Tokuyama (UN/LOCODE JPTKY)
❖ Coordinates: 34.0648°N, 131.8144°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Tokyo
❖ UN/LOCODE: JPTKY
## About the Port
Tokuyama Port (UN/LOCODE: JPTKY) is a strategically positioned maritime gateway on the southern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, facing the sheltered waters of the Suo-nada (Suo Sea) within the Seto Inland Sea. Geographically anchored at 34.0647516° N, 131.8144403° E, the port operates on Asia/Tokyo time (UTC+9). Although the legacy provincial spelling “Yamaguti” persists in some LOCODE registries, the modern prefecture is Yamaguchi. Following the 2003 municipal merger, the port is administered by Shunan City, yet retains the internationally recognized name Tokuyama.
Classified as a “Major Port” (重要港湾) by the Japanese government, Tokuyama provides essential infrastructure for the Shunan Industrial Complex, one of the densest petrochemical and refining clusters in western Japan. The port’s natural bathymetry, with channel depths maintained at 12–14 meters, accommodates vessels up to 60,000–80,000 DWT in dedicated berths. As documented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism↗, the harbor’s breakwater system spans over 3.2 km, mitigating typhoon-induced wave energy and ensuring all-weather operability.
### Geographical Context
The port lies midway along the Sanyo coastal corridor, approximately 80 km east of Yamaguchi City and 50 km west of Hiroshima Bay. Its hinterland connects directly to the Sanyo Expressway (E2) and the JR West Sanyo Shinkansen, enabling rapid distribution to the Keihanshin megalopolis and northern Kyushu.
## History
### Feudal and Early Modern Origins
Tokuyama’s maritime heritage traces to the Edo period (1603–1868), when it functioned as a cargo anchorage for the Chōshū Domain. Formal port modernization commenced in 1889 with designation as an open port for coastal trade under the Meiji government’s industrialization policy.
### 20th Century Industrialization
The decisive transformation occurred in the 1930s with the establishment of a naval fuel depot and subsequent private investments in chemical manufacturing. Post-1945, the port was reconstructed with external assistance, and in 1956 it was designated a “Specific Important Port.” The 1960s saw dredging of the Higashi (East) Channel to 11 m, attracting Mitsui Chemicals and Idemitsu Kosan refineries. The Tokuyama Kombinat became a cornerstone of Japan’s high-growth era.
### Contemporary Administration
In 2003, Tokuyama City merged with neighboring municipalities to form Shunan City. Port management was consolidated under the Shunan Port Authority, though the UN/LOCODE JPTKY remains unchanged. Continuous capital works under MLIT’s port upgrade initiatives have modernized quay cranes and automated tank farms.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Quays and Berthing
Tokuyama Harbor comprises two principal zones: the Nishi (West) Port and Higashi (East) Port. Combined, the port offers 28 public and private berths, including:
- **Oil/Gas Berths:** 4 berths (max draft 13.5 m) serving Aframax and shuttle tankers.
- **Chemical Berths:** 9 dedicated jetties with nitrogen blanketing and vapor recovery.
- **Dry Bulk:** 6 berths for cement, coal, and limestone (max 50,000 DWT).
- **General Cargo:** 5 multipurpose berths with 40-ton portal cranes.
The entrance channel is 180 m wide and 14 m deep, with a turning basin of 600 m diameter east of the breakwater.
### Terminal Specializations
The port hosts the Shunan Chemical Terminal, a shared-user facility with 120,000 KL storage for naphtha and aromatics. A dedicated cement silo terminal (1.2 million ton annual capacity) exports to East Asian markets. The Tomioka Wharf provides Ro-Ro capability for coastal feeder vessels.
### Navigational Aid and Services
Tokuyama is equipped with VTS integrated with the Japan Coast Guard’s Seto Inland Sea monitoring network. Bunkering, fresh water, and sludge disposal are available at all tidal berths. The offshore pilot station boards vessels at the Suo-nada fairway entrance.
## Economic Importance
### Industrial Symbiosis
Tokuyama is the maritime lifeline of the Shunan Industrial Complex, which contributes roughly ¥1.2 trillion (≈US$8.5 billion) in annual shipment value. The port’s liquid bulk handling supplies feedstocks to neighboring ethylene plants, creating a closed-loop ecosystem where by-products from one factory become inputs for another. This symbiosis reduces logistics cost by an estimated 15% compared to dispersed sites.
### Regional Employment
Direct port employment exceeds 2,400 stevedores, pilots, and terminal operators, while indirect jobs in refining, plastics, and transport logistics surpass 25,000 in Yamaguchi Prefecture. According to regional economic analysis published by JETRO↗, the port’s throughput resilience during recent supply chain disruptions stabilized western Japan’s chemical supply.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Domestic Feeder Networks
Tokuyama maintains daily coastal linkages with Kobe, Osaka, and Moji (Kitakyushu) via container and break-bulk feeder vessels. Cement and petroleum products move northward through the Kanmon Straits to Japanese Sea ports such as Shimane and Tottori.
### International Mainlines
Internationally, the port connects to Northeast Asian hubs—Busan, Shanghai, Kaohsiung—through weekly chemical parcel tanker services. Crude oil imports originate from the Middle East via the Malacca/Singapore route, discharged at the Idemitsu and Taiyo Oil terminals. Export flows of polypropylene and soda ash reach Southeast Asia and India.
### Commodity Breakdown
Annual throughput averages 45 million tons:
- **Liquid bulk (68%):** crude oil, naphtha, LPG, caustic soda.
- **Dry bulk (24%):** cement, coal, alumina, gypsum.
- **General cargo (8%):** machinery, steel coils, packaged chemicals.
The port’s balanced cargo mix and sheltered geography ensure its continued relevance in Japan’s western maritime arc.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
JPTKY
Country
Japan
Province / Region
Yamaguti [Yamaguchi]
Latitude
34.064752
Longitude
131.814440
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tokuyama?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tokuyama is JPTKY.
Where is Port of Tokuyama located?
The Port of Tokuyama is located in Japan, Yamaguti [Yamaguchi]. Its coordinates are 34.0648°N, 131.8144°E.
What time zone is Port of Tokuyama in?
Port of Tokuyama operates in the Asia/Tokyo 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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