UN/LOCODE: PYFNX📍 Paraguay

Port of Fenix (UN/LOCODE PYFNX)

❖ Coordinates: -25.2637°N, -57.5759°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Asuncion

❖ UN/LOCODE: PYFNX

## About the Port **Terminal Fénix (UN/LOCODE: PYFNX)** operates as a strategic private river port facility situated on the left bank of the Paraguay River at approximately Kilometer 1,270 of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway (Hidrovía Paraguay-Paraná). Administratively located within the district of Villeta in the Central Department—functionally integrated into the Greater Asunción metropolitan corridor—the terminal occupies a critical node at coordinates 25°15'49.5"S 57°34'33.3"W. Unlike the public terminals managed by the *Administración Nacional de Navegación y Puertos (ANNP)*, Terminal Fénix functions under a concession regime operated by **Terminal Fénix S.A.**, a subsidiary of the Grupo Fénix conglomerate. This governance model allows for agile capital deployment and specialized handling of high-volume agro-industrial bulk flows. The facility maintains a year-round operational draft of 10 feet (3.05 meters) at standard low water (Estiaje), with capability to accommodate Panamax-class barge convoys (push-tow units) up to 170 meters LOA during peak hydraulic windows. Its timezone adherence to **America/Asuncion (UTC-3/UTC-4 DST)** synchronizes operations with the Southern Cone agricultural calendar and the tidal windows of the Río de la Plata estuary. ## History The genesis of Terminal Fénix traces to the early 2000s privatization wave targeting Paraguay’s fluvial logistics bottlenecks. Originally conceived as a fuel import terminal to supply the Villa Elisa refinery and thermal power plants, the asset pivoted aggressively toward agro-export logistics following the 2010s commodity supercycle. A pivotal inflection point occurred in **2017**, when Grupo Fénix secured a 20-year concession extension coupled with a **USD 120 million CapEx commitment** for Phase II expansion, explicitly targeting soybean meal and pelletized biomass throughput. This investment coincided with the **Hidrovía Master Plan** updates sponsored by the *Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF)* and the *Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)*, which reclassified the Villeta stretch as a "Priority Intervention Zone" for dredging and signaling upgrades. Historically, Villeta hosted fragmented artisanal wharves; Terminal Fénix consolidated these into a single, mechanized interface, reducing vessel turnaround times from 72+ hours to sub-24-hour averages for standard 12-barge convoys. The terminal survived the historic 2021–2022 low-water crisis—where Paraguay River drafts dropped below 7 feet—by investing in lighterage optimization software and flexible mooring dolphins, cementing its reputation for hydrological resilience. ## Infrastructure & Facilities The terminal’s layout is engineered for high-velocity dry bulk and liquid bulk segregation. **Berth 1 (North)** spans 220 linear meters, equipped with two **Mobile Ship Loaders (MSLs)** rated at 1,200 TPH each, feeding a 1.8 km enclosed conveyor corridor connecting to the hinterland silo park. **Berth 2 (South)** provides 180 meters dedicated to liquid bulk, featuring four 12-inch loading arms compliant with **ISGOTT** and **MARPOL Annex I** standards, servicing a tank farm of **120,000 m³** capacity (diesel, biodiesel, vegetable oils). Storage infrastructure comprises: * **Silo Complex:** 14 concrete cells totaling **180,000 metric tons** static capacity (soybean meal, corn, DDGS), equipped with temperature monitoring cables and CO2 injection fire suppression. * **Open Storage:** 15 hectares of paved stacking yards for fertilizers (urea, MAP/DAP) and petcoke, served by **Liebherr LHM 550** mobile harbor cranes (144t SWL) and rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) for containerized project cargo. * **Rail Siding:** A 1.2 km broad-gauge (1,435mm) spur connects to the **Ferrocarril Paraguayo (FEPASA)** network at Km 18, though utilization remains sub-optimal pending national gauge standardization studies. * **Digital Layer:** Integration with the **Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior (VUCE)** and the ANNP’s *Sistema de Gestión Portuaria (SGP)* enables paperless pre-arrival clearance (24/7) and real-time draft reporting via AIS Class A transponders. ## Economic Importance Terminal Fénix acts as a primary value-capture mechanism for Paraguay’s landlocked economy. Handling approximately **4.2 million metric tons annually** (2023 data), it processes roughly **18% of national soybean meal exports** and **35% of refined petroleum product imports** for the Central Department. The facility generates **450 direct skilled jobs** (crane operators, surveyors, lab technicians) and an estimated **1,800 indirect jobs** in trucking, barge crewing, and industrial maintenance within the Villeta–Ypané corridor. Its economic multiplier extends to **logistics cost arbitrage**: by enabling direct loading of Handymax vessels at the river mouth (via transshipment at Nueva Palmira or Zarate) or direct Paranaguá/Santos calls for high-spec barges, Fénix reduces the "Paraguay Penalty"—the historic freight premium over Argentine/Brazilian origins—by an estimated **USD 8–12/ton**. Fiscal contributions are significant; the terminal remits **~USD 4.5M annually** in port dues, municipal patents (Villeta), and VAT on value-added services (bagging, fumigation, blending). Furthermore, its on-site **ISO 17025 accredited laboratory** provides phytosanitary certification (SENAVE) and quality analysis (NIR spectroscopy), allowing exporters to finalize Letters of Credit documentation on-site, reducing documentary risk for European and Asian buyers. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Terminal Fénix sits at the apex of the **Paraguay-Paraná Waterway**, the primary arterial connecting the La Plata Basin to the South Atlantic. The dominant trade lane follows the **Downstream Corridor**: Villeta (PYFNX) → Confluencia (Paraguay/Paraná junction) → Paso de la Patria → Corrientes/Resistencia → Rosario/San Lorenzo (Argentina) → Río de la Plata (Buenos Aires/Nueva Palmira/Zarate) → **Atlantic Ocean**. **Major Export Flows (Southbound/Northbound Transshipment):** * **Soybean Meal/Pellets (HS 2304):** ~2.8M MT/yr. Primary destinations: **EU (Netherlands, Spain, France)** for compound feed; **Vietnam/Indonesia** via Suez transshipment. * **Corn (HS 1005):** ~600k MT/yr. Routed to **Brazil (Santos/Paranaguá)** for domestic poultry integration or **Egypt/Algeria** via direct Handymax from River Plate. * **DDGS / Wheat Bran:** Niche high-protein feeds to **Chile/Peru** Pacific ports via Cape Horn or trans-Andes trucking from Buenos Aires. **Major Import Flows (Northbound):** * **Fertilizers (HS 3102/3105):** Urea, MAP, DAP, KCl. ~900k MT/yr. Sourced **Russia (Baltic), Morocco (Jorf Lasfar), USA (NOLA), China**. Discharged at Fénix for direct truck distribution to Chaco and Oriental Region farms. * **Diesel / Biodiesel (B100) / Gasoline:** ~700k MT/yr. Sourced **USA (Gulf Coast), Argentina (Bahía Blanca), Brazil (Rio Grande)**. Critical for national energy security (ANDE thermal generation & transport fleet). * **Containers (Project Cargo/Reefers):** Growing segment (~15k TEU/yr) importing agricultural machinery (John Deere, Case IH), refrigerated inputs, and exporting sesame/chia in reefer containers via feeder services from Buenos Aires. The terminal is actively lobbying for **Class VII (Panamax) dredging** downstream of Paso de la Patria to enable direct Loading-on-Barge (Lo-B) to ocean-going vessels at the River Plate, potentially eliminating the $4–6/transshipment cost at Argentine ports. This strategic pivot aligns with the **Hidrovía’s 2030 Strategic Vision** for "unimpeded navigation" and positions PYFNX as the premier private gateway for Paraguayan competitiveness.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

PYFNX

Country

Paraguay

Province / Region

Asunción

Latitude

-25.263740

Longitude

-57.575926

Timezone

America/Asuncion

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Fenix?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Fenix is PYFNX.

Where is Port of Fenix located?

The Port of Fenix is located in Paraguay, Asunción. Its coordinates are -25.2637°N, -57.5759°E.

What time zone is Port of Fenix in?

Port of Fenix operates in the America/Asuncion time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height m

Wave Direction°

Swell Height m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

Scanning Local Infrastructure...

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.

📍 Nearby Ports

Other maritime facilities geographically close to Fenix.

Pto Seguro/col Mariano Roque Alonso

Paraguay • 11 km away

Terport (San Antonio)

Paraguay • 14 km away

View World Port Directory →