UN/LOCODE: JPTMI📍 Japan

Port of Tsukumi (UN/LOCODE JPTMI)

❖ Coordinates: 33.0722°N, 131.8613°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Tokyo

❖ UN/LOCODE: JPTMI

## About the Port The Port of Tsukumi (UN/LOCODE: **JPTMI**) is a strategically significant industrial harbor situated on the eastern coast of the Bungo Channel in Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Positioned at coordinates 33.0721832° N, 131.8612771° E, the port operates within the Asia/Tokyo timezone (UTC+9). Classified as a Major Port (港湾 *Kōwan*) under the Port and Harbour Act of Japan, Tsukumi functions as a critical logistics node for the heavy industry cluster concentrated along the Tsukumi Bay area. Its natural geography—a deep, sheltered inlet protected by the Saganoseki Peninsula—provides exceptional calm water conditions, allowing for year-round operations with minimal downtime due to swell or typhoon-induced wave action, a distinct advantage over more exposed Pacific-facing ports. ## History Tsukumi’s maritime heritage is inextricably linked to limestone quarrying. Commercial operations commenced in earnest during the Meiji Restoration (late 19th century) to supply flux for the state-run Yawata Steel Works in Kitakyushu. The port was officially designated a "Special Major Port" in 1951, formalizing its role in national industrial supply chains. The post-war economic miracle saw the harbor expand rapidly; the 1960s and 1970s witnessed massive land reclamation projects to accommodate the Nippon Cement (now Taiheiyo Cement) and Tokuyama Corporation factory complexes. Unlike many Japanese ports that transitioned to containerization in the 1970s, Tsukumi retained its identity as a dedicated **bulk and breakbulk terminal**. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes tested the port’s resilience; while landslides temporarily disrupted hinterland rail and road connectivity, the quay structures—engineered to rigorous Japanese seismic standards (Performance Level 2)—sustained no structural damage, underscoring the facility's engineering robustness. ## Infrastructure & Facilities The port spans a total water area of approximately 410 hectares, with a land area exceeding 220 hectares, much of which is reclaimed industrial real estate. The berthing infrastructure is specialized for high-volume dry bulk and general cargo handling: * **Major Quays:** The facility boasts over 2,500 meters of usable quay length. The **No. 1–4 Dolphin Berths** and **Central Wharf** offer alongside depths ranging from **-10m to -14m CD** (Chart Datum), accommodating Panamax and Post-Panamax bulk carriers (up to 90,000 DWT). * **Cargo Handling Systems:** The port is equipped with high-capacity continuous ship unloaders (CSUs) and gantry cranes specifically calibrated for limestone, gypsum, coal, and silica sand. Conveyor systems link the quays directly to private silos and processing plants within the port perimeter, enabling "ship-to-plant" logistics without intermediate trucking. * **Specialized Terminals:** * *Taiheiyo Cement Terminal:* Dedicated berths with pneumatic unloaders and massive silo storage capacity (>500,000 tons) for clinker and raw limestone. * *Chemical & Aggregate Terminals:* Facilities for handling caustic soda, sulfur, and high-grade silica sand for the semiconductor and glass industries. * **Hinterland Connectivity:** Direct access to the **Higashikyushu Expressway** (Tsukumi IC) and a dedicated freight siding connecting to the **Nippō Main Line (JR Kyushu)** ensures efficient multimodal evacuation of cargo to the Kansai and Kanto industrial zones. ## Economic Importance Tsukumi acts as the maritime gateway for the **Tsukumi Industrial Complex**, contributing disproportionately to Ōita Prefecture’s Gross Prefectural Product (GPP). The port handles approximately **18–22 million metric tons** of cargo annually, ranking it consistently within the top 20 Japanese ports by tonnage volume despite its modest physical footprint. The economic engine is driven by three pillars: 1. **Cement & Construction Materials:** Taiheiyo Cement’s Tsukumi Plant is one of Japan’s largest integrated cement facilities. The port imports coal for kiln fuel and exports finished cement clinker to domestic hubs (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya) and Southeast Asian markets. 2. **Chemical Manufacturing:** Tokuyama Corporation’s factory produces soda ash, calcium chloride, and high-purity silica. The port’s ability to handle hazardous liquid bulk (caustic soda) and hygroscopic bulk (salt/gypsum) simultaneously is a key locational advantage. 3. **Limestone Export:** The adjacent Mount Yatsushiro quarry produces high-whiteness, low-impurity limestone—critical for steelmaking flux and flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) in thermal power plants. Tsukumi is Japan’s **leading export hub for metallurgical-grade limestone**, supplying major blast furnace operators in Korea, Taiwan, and China. The port authority (Ōita Prefecture Port Bureau) operates under a **Landlord Model**, leasing waterfront land to private operators who finance superstructure development. This public-private partnership (PPP) model ensures capital efficiency and aligns infrastructure capacity with real-time industrial demand. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Tsukumi’s trade profile is defined by **short-sea shipping (SSS) dominance** within the East Asia economic sphere, supplemented by coastal domestic distribution (Naikoku Kōro). ### Major Cargo Commodities (Annual Estimates) | Commodity | Direction | Volume (MT) | Primary Trade Partners | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Limestone / Calcium Carbonate** | Export | 8–10M | South Korea (Gwangyang, Pohang), Taiwan (Kaohsiung), China (Shanghai, Qingdao) | | **Coal (Thermal/Metallurgical)** | Import | 3–4M | Australia (Newcastle, Hay Point), Indonesia (Kalimantan), Russia (Vostochny) | | **Cement Clinker / Cement** | Export (Domestic/Int'l) | 2–3M | Domestic (Tokyo, Osaka), Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Philippines) | | **Silica Sand / Quartzite** | Export | 1–1.5M | South Korea, Taiwan, Japan Domestic (Chiba, Aichi) | | **Caustic Soda / Sulfur** | Import/Export | 0.5–1M | South Korea, China, Domestic Chemical Belt | ### Key Trade Lanes * **The "Limestone Triangle" (Tsukumi ⇄ Gwangyang/Pohang ⇄ Kaohsiung):** This high-frequency route utilizes 30,000–50,000 DWT handymax bulkers on 3–5 day round voyages. It serves the massive integrated steelworks of POSCO (Korea) and China Steel (Taiwan), where Tsukumi’s low-silica limestone is prized for slag volume reduction. * **Coastal Coal Shuttle:** Dedicated coastal colliers (2,000–5,000 DWT) maintain a continuous shuttle from major hub ports (e.g., Kobe, Nagoya, Moji) where Capesize vessels discharge imported coal, feeding Tsukumi’s cement kilns and independent power producers (IPPs). * **ASEAN Cement Circuit:** Growing demand for clinker in Vietnam and the Philippines has established a seasonal deep-sea lane utilizing Panamax bulkers, positioning Tsukumi as a swing supplier when domestic Japanese demand contracts. The port’s operational efficiency—averaging **25,000–30,000 metric tons per day** discharge rates for limestone via grab cranes and CSUs—combined with 24/7 pilotage and tug availability (provided by the Bungo Channel Pilots Association), ensures minimal demurrage costs. As Japan pivots toward carbon neutrality, Tsukumi is piloting **biomass co-firing logistics** (wood pellet handling trials) and **CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage)** supply chain feasibility studies, aiming to decarbonize the cement value chain without sacrificing throughput velocity. For further regulatory context on Japanese port classifications, refer to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Port Bureau↗. Detailed hydrographic data for approach navigation is maintained by the Japan Coast Guard Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department↗.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

JPTMI

Country

Japan

Province / Region

Ôita [Oita]

Latitude

33.072183

Longitude

131.861277

Timezone

Asia/Tokyo

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tsukumi?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tsukumi is JPTMI.

Where is Port of Tsukumi located?

The Port of Tsukumi is located in Japan, Ôita [Oita]. Its coordinates are 33.0722°N, 131.8613°E.

What time zone is Port of Tsukumi in?

Port of Tsukumi 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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