UN/LOCODE: PYSAN📍 Paraguay
Port of San Antonio (UN/LOCODE PYSAN)
❖ Coordinates: -25.4200°N, -57.5476°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Asuncion
❖ UN/LOCODE: PYSAN
## About the Port
San Antonio (UN/LOCODE: **PYSAN**) is a land‑locked, riverine port situated in the Central Department of Paraguay, just a few kilometres southeast of Asunción. Located at **25.4200° S, 57.5476° W** and operating under the **America/Asuncion** time zone, the port sits on the right bank of the **Paraguay River**, the main navigable artery of the country’s inland waterway system. As part of the extensive **Rio de la Plata basin**, San Antonio enjoys a strategic hinterland that links central Paraguay to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraná River and the Argentine port of Rosario.
The port is administered by the **Dirección Nacional de Puertos (DNP)**, the national agency responsible for the regulation, development, and safety of Paraguay’s ports and waterways. Its location within the capital’s metropolitan area makes San Antonio a crucial multimodal hub where river, road, and rail networks converge, supporting both domestic distribution and international trade.
> **Key identifiers**
> - **UN/LOCODE:** PYSAN
> - **Country:** Paraguay
> - **Province/Region:** Central Department
> - **Coordinates:** 25.4200 S, 57.5476 W
> - **Timezone:** America/Asuncion
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## History
San Antonio’s origins trace back to the early 20th century, when the Paraguayan government began formalizing river ports to capitalize on the **Paraguay River’s** natural depth and seasonal flow. The site was initially a modest dock used by local traders moving grain and cattle between Asunción and the interior provinces.
During the 1950s and 1960s, a series of national development plans—most notably the **“Plan de Desarrollo Nacional”**—spearheaded the expansion of river infrastructure. The port received its first concrete quay, a modest customs office, and basic storage sheds. By the 1970s, San Antonio had become a designated **“puerto interior”** (inland port) under the Ministry of Public Works, gaining legal status that allowed it to handle regulated export and import cargoes.
The 1990s saw a surge in agricultural exports, particularly soybeans and corn, prompting the DNP to modernize San Antonio’s facilities. In 1998, the port was equipped with a mechanized gantry crane and a pilot‑age system to facilitate larger barges up to 2,800 tonnes. The introduction of the **Paraguay River Navigation System (PRNS)** in 2002, which standardized river traffic rules and channel markings, further enhanced the port’s operational reliability.
Since the 2010s, San Antonio has benefited from Paraguay’s participation in regional integration initiatives such as **MERCOSUR** and the **Basin Committee of the Paraguay–Paraná Rivers**, leading to investments in dredging, digital customs platforms, and multimodal links that keep the port aligned with modern logistics standards.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Waterway Access
- **Number of berths:** 3 heavy‑duty berths (each 150 m long) capable of handling river barges up to **2,800 t** and push‑tugs up to **1,200 t**.
- **Draft:** Maintained at **2.5 m** year‑round thanks to periodic dredging by the DNP, ensuring safe navigation during low‑water periods (July–September).
- **Mooring:** Reinforced concrete mooring posts equipped with electric winches and shore power supplies for refrigerated cargo.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
| Equipment | Capacity | Primary Use |
|-----------|----------|-------------|
| Gantry crane (45 t) | 45 t per lift | Containerized cargo, bulk bags |
| Mobile crane (30 t) | 30 t | Heavy machinery and project cargo |
| Bulk belt conveyors | 250 t/h | Grain, soy meal, and fertilizer bulk |
| Cold storage | 1,200 m³ | Perishable foods, meat, and dairy |
| Warehouse space | 15,000 m² | General cargo, pallets, and packaging |
### Storage & Logistics
- **Open‑air yards:** 30,000 m² of covered & uncovered storage, segmented for bulk grains, mineral fertilizers, and timber.
- **Rail link:** A standard‑gauge siding connects San Antonio to the **Ferrocarril Central** network, providing a 50 km rail corridor to the Paraguayan hinterland and the **Belgrano Railway** gateway in Argentina.
- **Road access:** Direct connections to **National Route 1 (Ruta 1)** enable rapid truck dispatch to Asunción’s industrial zones and the **Silicon Valley of Paraguay** (the burgeoning technology park in the Central Department).
### Support Services
- **Customs & Inspection:** Integrated with the **Sistema de Información de Comercio Exterior (SICE)**, delivering electronic pre‑clearance and real‑time cargo tracking.
- **Pilotage & Tug Assistance:** Certified river pilots and two dedicated tugboats (900 t bollard pull) support safe navigation through the variable flow of the Paraguay River.
- **Safety & Environmental Management:** ISO 14001 certified waste‑water treatment plant and an on‑site fire‑suppression system meet both national and International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards.
---
## Economic Importance
San Antonio functions as a linchpin in Paraguay’s export‑driven economy. In 2023, the port handled an estimated **2.8 million metric tonnes** of cargo, representing **≈ 18 %** of the country’s total river‑borne trade volume. The following sectors illustrate its economic impact:
| Sector | Primary Commodities | Approx. 2023 Volume |
|--------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Agriculture | Soybeans, corn, wheat, rice | 1.6 Mt |
| Livestock & Meat | Beef, pork, dairy | 420 kt |
| Minerals & Fertilizers | Urea, superphosphate | 380 kt |
| Manufacturing | Machinery, automotive parts | 260 kt |
| Consumer Goods | Packaged foods, textiles | 240 kt |
The port’s proximity to Asunción’s industrial park enables quick value‑addition processes, such as grain cleaning, oil extraction, and meat processing, which in turn raise the export value chain. Moreover, San Antonio’s multimodal capabilities reduce logistics costs by an estimated **12 %** compared with handling the same cargo solely via land routes to neighboring Argentine ports.
Paraguay’s participation in **MERCOSUR** and its bilateral trade agreements with Brazil, Chile, and the European Union have amplified demand for reliable river ports. San Antonio’s role in this framework is frequently highlighted in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s annual reports, positioning the port as a catalyst for foreign direct investment (FDI) in agro‑industrial projects.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
1. **Paraguay River → Paraná River → Rosario (Argentina) → Atlantic Ocean** – The most heavily trafficked corridor, moving soybeans, corn, and fertilizers to global markets.
2. **Paraguay River → Confluence at Pantanal → Rio Grande → Brazil** – Facilitates the import of Brazilian machinery, spare parts, and consumer goods.
3. **Inland Road/Rail Loop** – Links San Antonio with the **Ciudad del Este** free‑zone via the **Trans‑Paraguayan Highway (Ruta 3)**, supporting cross‑border trade with Brazil and Bolivia.
### Major Cargo Profiles
- **Soybean Grain & Meal:** The dominant export, with daily barge loads averaging **3,500 t** during peak season (April–July).
- **Corn:** Second‑largest grain, often shipped alongside soybean for blended bulk contracts.
- **Beef & Processed Meat:** Fresh and chilled shipments leverage the port’s cold storage facilities, targeting markets in the EU and Middle East.
- **Fertilizers (Urea, Superphosphate):** Imported primarily from Brazil and Argentina to sustain Paraguay’s high‑yield agriculture.
- **Machinery & Vehicles:** Imported via the rail‑road link, serving construction, mining, and agro‑industrial sectors.
The port’s cargo flow is monitored by the **Sistema de Información Portuaria (SIP)**, an online platform that publishes real‑time berth occupancy, draft depth, and vessel ETA data. For additional technical specifications, see the **World Port Source** entry on San Antonio: https://www.worldportsource.com/ports/paraguay/san_antonio_port.
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### Outlook
Strategic investments slated for 2025‑2030—including a **second deep‑water berth**, a **dedicated container terminal**, and an **automated terminal operating system (TOS)**—are expected to boost San Antonio’s capacity by up to **30 %**. The planned dredging program, coordinated with the **Paraguay–Paraná River Basin Committee**, will secure a minimum draft of **3.0 m**, allowing larger **river‐seagoing vessels (RSVs)** to reach the port directly, thereby shortening the supply chain for both export and import flows.
With its entrenched multimodal infrastructure, solid institutional support, and a clear trajectory toward modernization, San Antonio stands as one of the most vital inland ports in South America, anchoring Paraguay’s burgeoning role in global agribusiness and reinforcing the economic lifeline that the Paraguay River provides to the nation.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
PYSAN
Country
Paraguay
Province / Region
Central
Latitude
-25.420006
Longitude
-57.547614
Timezone
America/Asuncion
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of San Antonio?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of San Antonio is PYSAN.
Where is Port of San Antonio located?
The Port of San Antonio is located in Paraguay, Central. Its coordinates are -25.4200°N, -57.5476°E.
What time zone is Port of San Antonio in?
Port of San Antonio operates in the America/Asuncion 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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