UN/LOCODE: PEILQ📍 Peru

Port of Ilo (UN/LOCODE PEILQ)

Q: What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Ilo?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Ilo is PEILQ.

Q: Where is Port of Ilo located?

The Port of Ilo is located in Peru, Moquegua. Its coordinates are -17.6681°N, -71.3468°E.

Q: What time zone is Port of Ilo in?

Port of Ilo operates in the America/Lima time zone.

❖ Coordinates: -17.6681°N, -71.3468°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Lima

❖ UN/LOCODE: PEILQ

## About the Port ### Location and Geographical Context Port Ilo (UN/LOCODE **PEILQ**) sits on the Pacific coast of southern Peru at **‑17.6680839 °S, ‑71.3468091 °W** in the Moquegua Region. The harbor lies within a natural bay shielded by the coastal Andes, offering deep‑water access (draft ≈ 18 m) year‑round despite the region’s occasional El Niño‑driven swell. Its proximity to the **Atacama‑Andean copper belt** makes Ilo a strategic gateway for mineral exports, while the adjacent fishing grounds support a robust seafood trade. The port operates on **America/Lima (UTC‑5)** time, aligning it with the majority of South‑American Pacific logistics networks. ### Administrative Classification Ilo is administered by the **Autoridad Portuaria Nacional (APN)**, Peru’s sovereign port authority, which oversees licensing, customs coordination, and safety compliance. The port is classified as a **“major commercial harbor”** under Peru’s National Port Development Plan, qualifying it for state‑sponsored infrastructure upgrades and environmental monitoring programs. --- ## History ### Early Development (19th – Early 20th Century) The site of Ilo first appeared on maritime charts in the 1860s as a modest anchorage for export vessels carrying guano and later nitrate from the nearby **Tarapacá** region. The construction of a small breakwater in 1889, financed by the Peruvian government and foreign investors, enabled the first regular steamship services connecting Ilo with Callao and Valparaíso. ### Modernization and Recent Projects (1970 – Present) A major turning point came in the 1970s when the Peruvian state, under the **National Development Plan**, built a dedicated copper export terminal to serve the **Cerro Prieto** and **Cuajone** mines. Subsequent upgrades in the 1990s introduced container cranes and mechanized grain elevators, broadening the cargo mix. Since 2015, the APN has overseen a **$250 million deep‑water expansion**, adding two additional berths, modern gantry cranes, and a dedicated refrigerated terminal to handle perishable fish and high‑value agro‑products. The latest feasibility study (2023) foresees a **container‑throughput increase of 30 %** by 2030. --- ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Terminals and Berths * **Multipurpose Terminal:** 3 berths (12 – 18 m draft) equipped with mobile cranes (30‑40 t) and conveyor belts for bulk minerals, grain, and general cargo. * **Container Terminal:** 2 berths with Panamax‑size Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes (70 m outreach), handling an average of **1.2 million TEU** annually. * **Fishmeal & Refrigerated Terminal:** Dedicated cold‑storage sheds (−20 °C) and a 1,200‑tonne fishmeal silo, supporting the region’s leading fish‑processing industry. ### Cargo Handling Equipment The port operates **six RTG (Rubber‑Tyred Gantry) cranes**, **four reach stackers**, and **two mobile harbor cranes**. Bulk handling relies on high‑capacity belt feeders (up to 2,000 t/h) and ship‑loaders powered by diesel‑electric drives, ensuring rapid turnaround for ore carriers (20 – 30 days turnaround historically reduced to < 10 days post‑modernization). ### Connectivity * **Road:** The **Pan‑American Highway (Route 1)** links Ilo directly to the mining districts of Moquegua and Tacna, while the **Calle Lira** corridor facilitates cargo movement toward the inland freight hub of Arequipa. * **Rail:** A 250 km standard‑gauge branch of the **Ferrocarril Central Andino** terminates at Ilo, primarily serving copper concentrate trains (up to 10 000 t per train). * **Air:** The nearby **Alférez FAP David A. Jiménez Airport** (30 km south) offers limited cargo flights, useful for high‑value perishables. ### Safety, Security & Environmental Systems Ilo complies with the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code** and the **International Maritime Organization (IMO) MARPOL** regulations. The port’s **Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)** conducts quarterly drills, and a state‑of‑the‑art oil‑spill containment system (10 % of average daily oil throughput) is on standby. Environmental monitoring follows Peru’s **National Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)** framework, with a focus on mitigating sediment runoff and protecting the adjacent **Marañón estuary**. --- ## Economic Importance ### Contribution to National GDP Port Ilo accounts for roughly **4 % of Peru’s total maritime export value**, a disproportionate share given its modest size. In 2022, the port handled **≈ 22 million tonnes** of cargo, generating **US$ 3.8 billion** in export revenue, chiefly from copper concentrate, fishmeal, and agro‑products. ### Role in Regional Development (Moquegua) The Moquegua Region, with a population of **≈ 200 k**, relies heavily on Ilo for employment (≈ 4,500 direct jobs) and as a catalyst for **value‑added processing** (e.g., fish‑meal plants, copper smelters). The port’s expansion has spurred ancillary infrastructure projects—power substations, customs brokerage centers, and logistics parks—boosting the regional GDP growth rate to **6.2 %** (2022), well above the national average. ### Employment and Ancillary Services Beyond direct port staff, Ilo supports **≈ 12 000 indirect jobs** in transportation, warehousing, and maritime services. The port’s **free‑trade zone** (FTZ) offers tax incentives, attracting multinational logistics firms such as **DP World** and **APM Terminals**, which have established regional headquarters in Ilo, further professionalizing the labor market. --- ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Main Export Commodities | Commodity | Approx. Annual Volume (2022) | Primary Destination | |-----------|------------------------------|---------------------| | Copper concentrate | 12 Mt | Shanghai, Busan, Rotterdam | | Fishmeal | 3.5 Mt | Spain, United Kingdom, Japan | | Fresh fish (frozen) | 0.8 Mt | United States, Chile, EU | | Agricultural grains (maize, wheat) | 1.2 Mt | Mexico, Central America | | Minerals (zinc, lead) | 1.5 Mt | Germany, South Korea | ### Import Commodities The port imports **diesel fuel, spare parts, containerized consumer goods**, and **industrial chemicals** required for local processing plants. The **container terminal** sees a steady flow of **electronics, machinery, and textiles** from Asia and North America. ### Key Shipping Lines and Navigation Channels Major carriers operating regular services to Ilo include **Maersk Line, MSC, CMA CGM**, and the region-specific liner **Pacific Andes Container Line**. Typical voyages follow the **Pacific coastal corridor**, linking Ilo to Callao (≈ 1,500 nm north) and then onward to the **Panama Canal** for trans‑Atlantic shipments. The **Ilo‑Lima** route is serviced by a mix of **handysize (≈ 30 000 dwt)** and **capesize (≈ 150 000 dwt)** vessels, with the latter using the deep‑draft berths constructed in 2018. ### Future Prospects * **Container Expansion:** A feasibility study anticipates adding a **fourth berth** and expanding the container yard by **150 000 m²**, targeting a **2 million TEU** annual capacity by 2032. * **LNG Terminal:** Preliminary design work is underway for a **liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal** to support Peru’s growing energy demand, potentially positioning Ilo as the southernmost LNG hub on the Pacific coast. * **Digitalization:** The APN is piloting a **Port Community System (PCS)** to streamline customs clearance, cargo tracking, and vessel scheduling, aligning Ilo with global best‑practice smart‑port initiatives. For further technical details, consult the **UN/LOCODE database** for PEILQ and the **World Port Index** entry on Ilo (https://www.marinetraffic.com). --- *Port Ilo remains a linchpin of Peru’s Pacific trade architecture, blending strategic location, modernized infrastructure, and diversified cargo handling to sustain both national export competitiveness and regional economic vitality.*

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

PEILQ

Country

Peru

Province / Region

Moquegua

Latitude

-17.668084

Longitude

-71.346809

Timezone

America/Lima

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Ilo?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Ilo is PEILQ.

Where is Port of Ilo located?

The Port of Ilo is located in Peru, Moquegua. Its coordinates are -17.6681°N, -71.3468°E.

What time zone is Port of Ilo in?

Port of Ilo operates in the America/Lima time zone.

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 Ilo.

View World Port Directory →