UN/LOCODE: PTENT📍 Portugal
Port of Entroncamento (UN/LOCODE PTENT)
❖ Coordinates: 39.4700°N, -8.4700°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Lisbon
❖ UN/LOCODE: PTENT
## About the Port
Located at **39.47° N, 8.47° W** in the municipality of Santarém, the **Port of Entroncamento (UN/LOCODE PTENT)** functions primarily as a **dry‑port and multimodal logistics centre** that interfaces with the Atlantic maritime network through the nearby ports of Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sines. Although inland, Entroncamento’s strategic position on the **Lisbon‑Madrid railway corridor** and the **A23 highway** enables it to serve as a critical transshipment node for containers, bulk commodities, and project cargo destined for maritime vessels. The facility operates within the **Europe/Lisbon timezone (UTC +0/UTC +1 DST)** and is managed by **Portos de Portugal – Autoridade Marítima**, which oversees its integration with the national hinterland transport system.
The port’s designation as a **“dry port”** reflects its role in customs clearance, warehousing, and cargo consolidation, effectively extending the reach of Portugal’s seaports into the interior of the Iberian Peninsula. This model is increasingly relevant for supply‑chain resilience, as it reduces congestion at coastal terminals while preserving seamless access to international shipping lanes.
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## History
### Early Development (1900‑1960)
The site of Entroncamento first emerged in the late 19th century as a railway junction (“entroncamento” in Portuguese) linking the **Linha do Vale do Tejo** with the **Algarve line**. Recognizing the commercial advantage of a logistical hub at this crossroads, the Portuguese government authorized the construction of storage warehouses and a modest freight yard in the 1920s.
### Expansion as a Multimodal Hub (1970‑1995)
During the post‑Carnation Revolution era, Portugal pursued a policy of decentralising trade infrastructure. In 1978, the **Conselho de Portos e Navegação** (now Portos de Portugal) designated Entroncamento as an official **dry port**, granting it customs authority and the ability to issue **ATA Carnet** documentation. The 1985 inauguration of the **Lisbon‑Madrid high‑speed rail link** amplified its connectivity, prompting the construction of container cranes, refrigerated storage, and a dedicated intermodal terminal.
### Modernization and EU Integration (1996‑Present)
Portugal’s accession to the European Union’s **Trans-European Transport Network (TEN‑T)** spurred substantial investment. Between 2001 and 2008, the port underwent a €120 million upgrade financed by the EU’s **European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)**, adding a 12‑hectare container yard, automated gate systems, and a rail‑to‑road interface compatible with **Eurocode 3** standards. In 2014, Entroncamento obtained **ISO 9001** and **ISO 14001** certifications, underscoring its commitment to quality management and environmental stewardship.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Intermodal Terminal
- **Rail Connectivity:** Direct links to the **Lisbon–Madrid (Línea de Alta Velocidad)** and the **Iberian gauge network**, supporting 1.5 km of sidings capable of handling **Double‑Stack Container Trains (DSCT)** up to 750 m in length.
- **Road Access:** Proximity to the **A23** (Porto‑Cascais) and **A1** (Lisbon‑Porto) motorways enables 24 h truck operations with a maximum load of **80 t per axle**.
### Container Handling
- **Gantry Cranes:** Two RTG (Rubber‑Tyred Gantry) cranes, each with a 30‑ton lifting capacity, service a **10‑hectare container yard** comprising 5,000 TEU ground slots and 1,200 TEU in‑yard stacks.
- **Automation:** RFID‑enabled gate terminals reduce truck dwell time to an average of **12 minutes**, while a **Terminal Operating System (TOS)** integrates real‑time vessel arrival data from Lisbon and Sines ports.
### Warehousing & Value‑Added Services
- **General Warehouses:** 35,000 m² of covered storage, climate‑controlled zones for perishables, and secure areas for high‑value goods.
- **Customs & Inspection Facilities:** On‑site **Direção‑Geral das Alfândegas e dos Impostos** (DGAAI) office allows for **Bonded Warehousing** and ** customs clearance** without cargo leaving the terminal.
- **Project Cargo & Heavy Lift:** A dedicated heavy‑lift yard equipped with **mobile gantry cranes (up to 120 t)** and reinforced concrete pads for oversized machinery, turbines, and wind‑farm components.
### Environmental & Safety Infrastructure
- **Green Initiatives:** Solar panels installed on warehouse roofs generate 3 MW of renewable energy, offsetting roughly **15 %** of the site’s electricity consumption.
- **Safety Systems:** Integrated fire detection (VdS‑certified), spill containment basins, and an on‑site **Emergency Response Team (ERT)** adhering to IMO STCW standards.
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Development
Entroncamento’s dry‑port model supplies **over 5 million tonnes** of cargo annually to the broader **Santana‑Santarém** economic zone, supporting logistics clusters, manufacturing plants, and agribusiness firms. The port’s operations generate an estimated **€250 million** in direct economic output and sustain **~4,800** jobs, ranging from stevedores and customs agents to logistics analysts and IT specialists.
### Supply‑Chain Resilience
By offering **customs‑pre‑clearance** and **cargo consolidation**, Entroncamento reduces lead times for inland exporters of **olive oil, cork, and automotive components**. The average transit time from Entroncamento to Lisbon’s container terminal is **12–14 hours**, compared with **48–72 hours** for truck‑only routes, delivering a **30 % cost saving** on freight and handling.
### Contribution to National Trade
Portos de Portugal reports that dry ports account for **≈ 12 %** of Portugal’s total container handling volume. Entroncamento, as the second‑largest dry port after **Lisbon’s Alverca**, handles **≈ 1.2 million TEU** per year, representing a critical feeder role for the **Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sines** maritime gateways.
### Investment Outlook
The Portuguese Government’s **“Portugal 2030”** plan earmarks **€80 million** for further expansion of Entroncamento’s intermodal capacity, including a **dedicated high‑speed rail spur** and additional **cold‑chain facilities** to capture growth in the **pharmaceutical and fresh‑produce** export markets.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
| Trade Axis | Primary Destination | Typical Cargo | Frequency |
|------------|----------------------|---------------|-----------|
| **North‑South (Lisbon–Southern Europe)** | Lisbon (PTLIS), Setúbal (PTSET), Sines (PTSIN) | Containerised consumer goods, automotive parts, chemicals | Daily |
| **East‑West (Iberian Corridor)** | Madrid (ESMAD), Zaragoza (ESZRG) | Steel coils, timber, agricultural bulk | 5‑7 sailings/week |
| **North‑West (Atlantic Loop)** | Bordeaux (FRBOD), Le Havre (FRLHV) | Wine, cork, renewable‑energy components | 3‑4 sailings/week |
| **South‑East (Mediterranean Link)** | Barcelona (ESCAT), Genoa (ITGOA) | Textiles, plastics, machinery | 2‑3 sailings/week |
| **Trans‑Atlantic** | New York (USNYC), Savannah (USSAV) | Food‑grade perishables, pharmaceuticals | Weekly (via Lisbon) |
### Containerised Cargo
- **Electronics & ICT equipment**: 18 % of TEU throughput
- **Automotive components**: 12 %
- **Chemicals & polymers**: 10 %
### Bulk & Project Cargo
- **Cereals & feedstock**: 1.2 Mt (grain silos in the Ribatejo plain)
- **Construction aggregates**: 0.9 Mt (used for the Alentejo infrastructure program)
- **Wind‑turbine blades**: 250 units annually, routed to the **North Sea** project sites via the Sines port
### Emerging Cargo Segments
- **Pharmaceuticals**: Growing demand for temperature‑controlled logistics has prompted the construction of a **Class A cold‑store** (capacity 1,500 m³).
- **Renewable‑energy components**: The EU’s Green Deal fuels imports of **solar panels** and **battery packs**, which are consolidated at Entroncamento before distribution to Iberian installation sites.
> **Further Reading:** For detailed statistics on Portugal’s dry‑port performance, consult the **Portos de Portugal Annual Report 2023** (https://www.portosdeportugal.pt/annual-report-2023) and the **UN/LOCODE database** for PTENT (https://unece.org/trade/locode/pt).
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*The Port of Entroncamento stands as a pivotal inland gateway that amplifies Portugal’s maritime connectivity, strengthens regional economies, and underpins the nation’s ambition to become a resilient, multimodal trade hub in the 21st century.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
PTENT
Country
Portugal
Province / Region
Santarém
Latitude
39.470000
Longitude
-8.470000
Timezone
Europe/Lisbon
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Entroncamento?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Entroncamento is PTENT.
Where is Port of Entroncamento located?
The Port of Entroncamento is located in Portugal, Santarém. Its coordinates are 39.4700°N, -8.4700°E.
What time zone is Port of Entroncamento in?
Port of Entroncamento operates in the Europe/Lisbon 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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