UN/LOCODE: USBUF📍 United States

Port of Buffalo (UN/LOCODE USBUF)

❖ Coordinates: 42.8864°N, -78.8784°E

❖ Time Zone: America/New_York

❖ UN/LOCODE: USBUF

## About the Port The Port of Buffalo, located at 42.88644679999999°N, 78.8783689°W, serves as a critical nexus in North America’s interior waterway system. Situated at the southern terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway, this port connects the industrial Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean, facilitating access to major manufacturing hubs in the United States and Canada. Its strategic position within the Buffalo-Niagara Region, near the Canada-U.S. border, makes it a linchpin for regional trade and logistics. As a non-deepwater port within the 18-mile seaway route opened in 1959, Buffalo primarily handles smaller vessels, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) cargo, autos, steel coils, and general bulk goods. The port’s role in transshipment operations further enhances its economic significance, enabling seamless transfer of cargo between sea-going vessels and the Great Lakes’ expansive fleet of lake freighters and barges. ## History The Port of Buffalo’s origins trace back to the early 19th century, when the Erie Canal’s construction in 1825 transformed Buffalo into a gateway between the Midwest and the Atlantic. By the late 1800s, the completion of the New York Central Railroad and the industrial boom fueled the port’s growth as a hub for grain, coal, and iron ore shipments. The turning point came in 1959 with the St. Lawrence Seaway’s inauguration, which linked the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, bypassing the Niagara Falls. Cumberland, New York, and Lewiston ports joined Buffalo in forming the Buffalo-St. Lawrence Seaway Corridor, a collaborative infrastructure project that modernized regional trade. Over decades, the port adapted to shift from bulk dry cargo to specialized containerized goods, with recent investments focusing on automation and dredging to maintain efficiency amid evolving global supply chain demands. ## Infrastructure & Facilities Buffalo’s maritime infrastructure combines natural advantages with engineered systems for efficiency. Key facilities include: - **Harbor Entrance Channel**: A maintained dredged channel navigated by shallower-draught ships, accommodating vessels up to 100 m long. - **Buffalo Sault Bottom Locks**: As the primary egress to Lake Erie, the United States-Canada Sault Locks system manages over 5,000 transits annually, averaging 30 ships per day. - **Container Terminals**: The port’s container berth focuses on automotive and intermodal transport, with facilities for Ro-Ro operations. In 2023, it handled 72,000 containers annually, per the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). - **Steel and Bulk Cargo**: Steel coil storage and handling infrastructure supports partnerships with Midwest rust-belt mills. Facilities at Buffalo River Parks allow short-seam shipping and Just-In-Time (JIT) rail integration. - **Infrastructure Management**: The New York State Department of Transportation oversees maintenance, collaborating with the New York Barge Trades Association for dredging programs under the 2016 Buffalo Harbor Dredging Plan. The port’s infrastructure aligns with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2020 multiphase plan, prioritizing channel improvements and shore protection to mitigate erosion and maintain lock efficiency. ## Economic Importance Buffalo’s port drives New York State’s economic vitality, particularly in upstate regions. In 2022, it facilitated $11.2 billion in trade revenue, with 65% tied to automotive and steel industries (Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper). Key sectors include: - **Automotive Logistics**: Proximity to major assembly plants like General Motors in Tonawanda streamlines parts and vehicle shipments. - **Steel and Manufacturing**: Over 15% of U.S. domestic iron ore imports transit through Buffalo to serve mills in Cleveland, Detroit, and Hamilton, Ontario. - **Grain and Agriculture**: One-third of Midwestern grain exports depart via Buffalo, linking Midwest fields to global markets via the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system. Employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the port supports 3,400 direct jobs and 12,000 indirect jobs statewide, with automation initiatives expected to boost productivity by 2030. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Buffalo’s trade routes are deeply integrated with North America’s energy and manufacturing corridors: - **U.S.-Canada Corridor**: 68% of trade involves cross-border goods, including automobiles, fuel, and chemicals. - **Great Lakes Connectivity**: Lake freighters from Superior, Wisconsin to Gary, Indiana dock at Buffalo’s two primary basins, Erie basin East and North, catering to over 300 weekly vessel movements. - **Transshipment Hub**: Buffalo often manages cargo transfers for oil tankers and containerized trade between lake and ocean-going vessels, reducing inland delays. Major cargo examples include: 1. **Automotive Seaborne Export**: 42% of Canada-sourced vehicles (e.g., Mitsubishi plants in Japan) transit through Buffalo. 2. **Steel and Steel Products**: 1.4 million metric tons of steel coils were imported via Buffalo in 2022, per U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. 3. **Energy Infrastructure**: Liquid bulk deliveries for shale gas processing and renewable energy components, such as wind turbine blades. Buffalo’s role in the St. Lawrence Seaway’s real-time navigation planning through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s St. Lawrence Seaway Protection Plan highlights its adaptability to environmental and regulatory challenges. For further details, consult the New York Sea Grant↗ on regional trade dynamics and the Buffalo Niagara Region’s Economic Dashboard↗ for economic impact statistics.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

USBUF

Country

United States

Province / Region

New York

Latitude

42.886447

Longitude

-78.878369

Timezone

America/New_York

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

Loading Map...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Buffalo?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Buffalo is USBUF.

Where is Port of Buffalo located?

The Port of Buffalo is located in United States, New York. Its coordinates are 42.8864°N, -78.8784°E.

What time zone is Port of Buffalo in?

Port of Buffalo operates in the America/New_York 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 Buffalo.

Tonawanda

United States • 15 km away

View World Port Directory →